Thousands of vaccine doses on the way for Ottawa children, OPH says

Tens of thousands of children under the age of 12 could soon be eligible for their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) says.

Dr. Vera Etches, the city's medical officer of health, shared details Thursday afternoon on how the rolloutof vaccines for children between the ages of five and 11 which have not yet been approved by Health Canada, but should soon be will work.

Local public health officials expect to see first doses delivered to 77,000 eligible children in that age group who live in Ottawa.

They will be able to get a first dose of the vaccine within four weeks of Health Canada's approval and the province of Ontario delivering the necessary doses, OPH said.

"Once the vaccine is approved for children five to 11, don't wait," Etchesurged parents at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

"Only vaccines that are proven to be safe, effective and of high quality ... are authorized for use in Canada."

No child will be vaccinated without their parents' consent, Etches added.

3 new vaccine clinicsto open

COVID-19 cases have been particularly high among school-aged children this fall, with10 times as many Ottawa elementary students involved in school-relatedoutbreaks in September 2021 compared to the same month in 2020.

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That situation should be eased once Health Canada announces Friday thePfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved for children aged five to 11, an announcement CBC News has already confirmed.

Following that announcement, doses could be shipped to the nation's capital "within the week," Etches said.

Once the vaccine is officially approved and those doses are safely stored inlocal refrigerators, immunizations will take place at the four pre-existing community clinics plusthree new ones opening to handle the extrademand, Etches said.

Those new locations are:

• The Nepean Sportsplex curling rink at1701 Woodroffe Ave.
• The formerSt. Patrick's Intermediate School at1485 Heron Rd.
• TheRideauview Community Centre at 4310 Shore Line Dr.

OPH will also spend four weeks running 73 after-hours pop-up clinics at schools across the city an option, Etches said, for thosewho can't get their children to the community sites or feel more comfortable in their school's environment.

Other vaccination options includelocal pharmacies andneighbourhood vaccination hubs, Etches added, with a full rundown of sites listed on the health unit's website.

Appointments are not yet available,but families will book children's appointments through the provincial booking system.

'Will make a tremendous difference'

Unvaccinated children aged five to 11 represent the group that's having "the most disruption to their lives right now," Etches said.

"I think this will make a tremendous difference, not only for the children but for families," she said.

Even with doses seemingly on the way for younger children, Etches warned they stillwon't be fully vaccinated with two doses in time for the holidays.

"So I want to encourage people to proceed with caution, check on the aspects [their holiday] gatherings and choose the lower-risk options," she said.