Following the recommendation of the Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Government of Yukon is expanding the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to children between the ages of six months and five years. This follows Health Canada’s approval of the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 for children in that age group and is supported by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).
The vaccine for this age category will also be a two-dose primary series. The second dose should be administered eight weeks after the first. Children between the ages of six months and five years will get a dose of 25 micrograms each, which is half the dose authorized for children between the ages of five and 11.
If your child has recently been infected with COVID-19, it is recommended they wait 3 months after symptoms started or after testing positive before starting or completing their primary COVID-19 vaccine series.
Vaccination continues to be the best protection against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated not only protect ourselves, it protects our loved ones and our community. Vaccines are safe and effective for everyone, including children.
Planning is currently underway and appointments are expected to start the week of July 25 if COVID-19 vaccines for this age group arrive in the territory as scheduled. Online appointments are expected be available to book starting July 21. Whitehorse residents will be able to book their appointment on Yukon.ca/appointments and people living in rural Yukon can call their local health centre for appointments.
We are very pleased to see vaccines approved for our youngest Yukoners and we are working with our federal partners to make them available as soon as possible. Vaccination remains our best protection against the most serious harms of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, families have had to deal with daycare closures, missing school, not being able to see loved ones and disappointing event cancellations. Now that these safe and effective vaccines are available, I know they will be welcomed by many parents who are anxious to better protect their children from COVID-19.
Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee
Vaccination against COVID-19 is essential to protect our littlest ones and their families from the disease. The upcoming availability of the new vaccine for children under five is great news and I encourage parents and caregivers to speak with their family physician, or other trusted medical provider, if they are unsure about their choice to immunize.
Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Sudit Ranade
The Moderna Spikevax vaccine has been approved by Health Canada and is available to Yukon children between the ages of six months and five years.
Planning is currently underway and information on clinic dates and times will be posted to www.yukon.ca/this-is-our-shot.
Jacob Wilson
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
jacob.wilson@yukon.ca
Samantha Henney
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-8321
samantha.henney@yukon.ca