B.C.’s youngest children can start COVID vaccinations in three weeks

Now that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been approved in Canada, B.C. parents can start registering their children to get them immunized.

The vaccine, a smaller dose than that used in older children, will be available to those six months through four years old, of which there are 208,000 in B.C.

Parents are asked to register their children on the Get Vaccinated website, here. They will then receive an invitation to make appointments for vaccinations that will start rolling out in health clinics on Aug. 2.

READ MORE: Health Canada approves first COVID-19 vaccine for children under five

“We know that these vaccines are safe and have helped the province weather the COVID-19 pandemic so far,” Dr. Martin Lavoie, acting provincial health officer, said in a news release issued today, July 14.

“Although most children who are infected with this virus have no symptoms or mild symptoms, unfortunately we know that some can get very sick and these vaccines are key to keeping our communities healthy and safe.”

Parents of children under the age of six months can still register. They will get an invitation to make an appointment once the children reach six months of age.

The vaccine requires two doses, eight weeks apart.

Children who have already had COVID-19 should wait eight weeks after the start of COVID symptoms or a positive test before getting vaccinated. That can be shortened to four weeks for children who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.

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