Today, Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Wellington-Dufferin Guelph Public Health, announced a regional plan to vaccinate children against COVID-19. This is in anticipation of Health Canada’s approval to administer Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty® to children between the ages of 5 and 11.
“We have said throughout the pandemic that our goal is always to ‘be ready not get ready’,” said Dr. Mercer. “The childrens’ vaccination program is another example. Our plan mobilizes partners throughout the region to get children vaccinated as quickly as possible.”
The plan will feature three main vaccination paths: primary care providers, pharmacies and WDG Public Health clinics. Most children will be vaccinated through their primary care provider. Local Family Health Teams and physicians are prepared to play a vital role in the vaccine program with many already beginning to book appointments. This is a unique, local approach that vaccinates most children where they have safely received routine vaccinations since they were two months old.
Like the adult vaccination program, WDG Public Health and local partners will ensure child vaccinations place a priority on regional and socioeconomic equity through:
- Hub clinics in larger populated areas
- Mobile clinics in smaller municipalities
- Outreach pop-up clinics in areas of greater need
- Clinics in schools located in neighbourhoods with lower vaccination rates
- Specialty clinics and accessible clinics for children who need them
- Clinics at children’s congregate settings and treatment centres
“This is a tremendous step forward for our region,” said Dr. Mercer. “I share the enthusiasm of parents and residents of the region that we are on the cusp of protecting our children against COVID-19. It represents one of the key remaining steps to ending this pandemic and getting back to a more normal pattern of life.”
For more information, please visit wdgpublichealth.ca/vaccine-kids.
Media Contact
Danny Williamson
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
1-800-265-7293 ext. 4376
Danny.Williamson@wdgpublichealth.ca