Alberta parents will be able book appointments for children to receive first doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine starting early next week.
Appointments for first doses can be booked starting on Aug. 2, with vaccinations beginning the same day, said a statement released by the Alberta government on July 29.
Children from six months to five years will be eligible.
“While most children are not at high risk of severe outcomes, children under five have higher risks than those age five to 11,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health.
“I encourage parents and guardians to speak to a trusted health-care provider for questions about their child’s health, including questions about COVID-19 and immunization.”
These first-dose appointments must be booked at bookvaccine.alberta.ca or by calling Health Link at 811. The vaccine will be administered at Alberta Health Services clinics, as the scope of practice for pharmacists for administering immunization is five years of age and older.
Alberta Health Services will administer all doses for this age group.
The release recommends children aged six months to 11 years receive a primary series of two doses, waiting at least eight weeks between the first and second dose.
This may be increased to three doses for immunocompromised children, with a wait of four to eight weeks between each dose.
Eligible children who live on a First Nation can access doses through nursing stations or public health clinics on-site.
The release states Health Canada approved the Moderna vaccine for children aged six months to five years on July 14, and it has been in use in the United States since June.
This announcement means that 234,000 children between six months and five years of age are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Alberta.
