B.C. ready to offer vaccines for children as soon as possible

B.C. health officials are welcoming the news that Health Canada has approved Pfizer’s vaccine for children aged five to 11.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry say the rigorous review confirms that the lower-dose vaccine is safe and effective.

Henry says B.C. will make the vaccine available for 360,000 young British Columbians as soon as possible, likely in the new few weeks.

“While children are at a lower risk of severe disease from COVID-19, it can still result in serious outcomes in some children, including hospitalization and long-term symptoms. Health Canada’s approval of the vaccine for children is another important step that will help protect children from COVID-19 and help us safely get back to many important activities,” said the provincial health officer.

Parents and guardians can now register their kids for the shot on the Get Vaccinated website at www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca – or by calling 1 833 838-2323 toll-free.

Already, more than 75,000 children have been registered for their vaccine.

About three-million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s children’s vaccine will be shipped to Canada now that Health Canada has approved the shots.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending two doses, with at least eight weeks between them.

(With files from the Canadian Press)