COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
Vaccine Information for Parents/Guardians of Children (6 months - 11 years old)
The first of two doses of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 is now available for children 6 months of age and older at Regional vaccination clinics and participating pharmacies. To book an appointment, check our Get a Vaccine page.
Vaccines are an important tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and allow families to safely resume normal activities.
Although children and youth are less likely to get very sick from COVID-19 they can still:
- Get sick from COVID-19
- Be infected and not have any symptoms
- Spread COVID-19 to others
- Experience longer-term effects if they do get infected
COVID-19 vaccines authorized by Health Canada are safe, reliable, and can help protect you, your family, and our community from COVID-19. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Can my child get the COVID-19 vaccine? |
Children who are six months or older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Find information about how to get a vaccine.
Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns about your child receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. |
How can my child have a positive vaccination experience? |
Knowing what to expect can help make vaccination a positive experience for your family. Before vaccination
At the vaccination appointment
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Does my child require my consent before receiving the vaccine? |
Immunization is a treatment for the prevention of disease and therefore needs consent. There is no minimum age for giving consent under the Health Care Consent Act, 1996 of Ontario. If the individual is capable to provide informed consent, parental consent is not needed. Informed consent means that you understand what the vaccine involves, why it is recommended, and the risks and benefits of getting or not getting it. If an individual is unable to provide informed consent to receive the vaccine (for example, for medical reasons), they will need consent from someone who can make a decision on their behalf, such as a parent or legal guardian. If an individual is under 12 years of age, they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. As a parent or guardian, discuss immunization with your child. Your child needs to know about:
The vaccine administrator needs to know your child's:
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How long should my child wait between having COVID-19 and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine? |
For children 6 months to 5 years of age previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, NACI suggests an 8-week interval between infection and initiation or completion of a COVID-19 primary series (i.e., 8 weeks after symptom onset or positive test if asymptomatic). This interval may be shortened for children considered moderately to severely immunocompromised (i.e, 4 to 8 weeks after symptom onset or positive test if asymptomatic). |
Sensory Safe Accommodations |
If your child between the ages of 5-17 requires special accommodations during their COVID-19 vaccination, please connect with your family doctor or pharmacy for more information. |
Resources
- COVID-19 vaccination for ages under five
- What are the reasons to vaccinate my young child 6 months - 5 years (University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Children Age 5 to 11 (Region of Waterloo)
- Parents, have you done your homework? (Children’s Health Coalition website)
- Science Up First (Canadian Association of Science Centres website)
- A Parent’s Guide to Vaccination (Government of Canada, available in 13 languages)
- COVID-19 FAQ Children Ages 5 to 11 (Region of Waterloo)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service (The Hospital for Sick Children/SickKids)
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Youth (Government of Ontario)
- COVID-19 vaccines for youth (Government of Ontario)
- COVID-19 Vaccination Special Accommodation (Sensory-Safe) Clinic Program Information Sheet (Region of Waterloo)
- FAQ COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines for Children (University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy)
- Myocarditis and Pericarditis After COVID-19 Vaccines (University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy)
- Reduce the Pain of Vaccination in Kids and Teens (Canadian Medical Association)
- Timing of COVID-19 vaccines for young children six months and older (University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy)
Videos
- Science Up First National Kids & Vaccines Town Hall (Canadian Association of Science Centres )
- Children and vaccines: How to prepare your child for a vaccine (Region of Waterloo)
- Children and vaccines: What to expect at a vaccination clinic (Region of Waterloo)
- COVID-19 Vaccination for Children Ages 5 to 11 Parent/Guardian Information Session (Recorded December 2, 2021-Region of Waterloo)
- Parent and Youth Information Session (12-17 year olds), Featuring Dr. Kelly Grindrod - June 16, 2021 (Region of Waterloo Video)
Translated materials
Visit our Community and Cultural Resources webpage to view translated print and video resources.
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