Children's COVID-19 Vaccination FAQ

Why should your family get the COVID-19 vaccine?

My name is Dr. Kent Saylor (MD Pediatrician), I'm a Mohawk pediatrician from Kahnawä:ke.

Some of you may remember me as a visiting pediatrician for some of the coastal communities in Eeyou Istchee.

Today, I'd like to talk to you about vaccines.

As a pediatrician, I encourage all my families to fully vaccinate their children.

It is the best way to keep them safe...during this COVID pandemic.

I strongly encourage all community members to get the COVID vaccine.

It is safe even for your children.

Our elders are the knowledge holders. Our children are the future and their parents need to take care of them.

Vaccinating everyone is the best way to protect them.

Please get vaccinated.

Our future generations depend on it.

Meegwetch and stay safe, everyone.

IT'S OKAY to have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine

• Get the facts from a doctor or nurse at your CMC
   

Vaccination helps prevent or reduce the spread of COVID-19.   

• Vaccination offers children protection against getting very sick or being hospitalized if they do become infected. Being vaccinated also reduces the chance they’ll spread the virus to people around them. 

• There are many children in Eeyou Istchee. Children under the age of 12 make up a large part of our population (almost one quarter of the total, with over 4,000 children).  

• COVID-19 vaccination helps protect the whole community.   

• When children are vaccinated, it will mean families and communities will be better protected, and can gather more safely.  

Children can catch COVID-19 and get sick from it.   

• Although children and youth are less likely to get really sick from COVID-19, they can still get sick, be infected and not have any symptoms, spread COVID-19 to others, or experience longer-term side effects if they do get infected.   

• Children with certain underlying medical conditions may have a higher risk for severe illness.   

•  COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of MIS-C (multi-systemic inflammatory syndrome in children), which is a rare but severe complication of an infection to COVID-19.  

• People who are fully vaccinated and who do get infected with COVID-19 will likely have no symptoms, or mild symptoms.   

Vaccination is a personal choice. We want people to get the right information, and talk about it with their families.  

• People who have received all the recommended doses and who do get infected with COVID-19 are more likely to have milder symptoms, and are less likely to get severely ill.

• Booster doses further reduce transmission and increase protection – especially now that we have Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) bivalent BA.4-BA.5 booster vaccines for children aged 5-11 years old available in Eeyou Istchee (since January 4, 2023) - which better target Omicron and its subvariants. 

For children aged 6 months to 4 years old who are NOT immunocompromised:  

• We are offering 2 doses of the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine to complete their primary vaccine series (baseline vaccination), with an interval of 8 weeks between doses. 

• Booster doses are not yet approved for children under the age of 5 years old.    

For children aged 6 months to 4 years old who are immunocompromised:  

• Children who are immunocompromised (weakened immune system) are recommended to get 3 doses of the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine to complete their primary vaccine series (baseline vaccination), with an interval of 4 weeks between doses. 

• Booster doses are not yet approved for children under the age of 5 years old. 

For children 5-11 who are NOT immunocompromised:  

• We are offering 2 doses of the Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine for 5 to 11 years old, with an interval of 8 weeks between doses. 

• Booster doses are available for children aged 5 years and over, and are strongly recommended for children at high-risk of having complications from COVID-19 or who live in a closed group environment (group homes). A booster dose is given if the last COVID-19 dose was 5 months ago (and at least 3 months after a COVID-19 infection). 

• If a vaccine dose was given since August 15, 2022, no further dose is required for now. 

• Booster doses further reduce transmission and increase protection – especially now that we have Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) bivalent BA.4-BA.5 booster vaccines for children aged 5-11 years old available in Eeyou Istchee (since January 4, 2023) - which better target Omicron and its subvariants. 

For children 5-11 who are immunocompromised or receiving dialysis:  

• Children who are immunocompromised (weakened immune system) need an additional dose (3rd dose) to complete their primary vaccine series (baseline vaccination), with an interval of 4 weeks between doses. 

• Booster doses are strongly recommended for immunocompromised children or children receiving dialysis. For these children, a booster dose is given if the last COVID-19 dose was 3 months ago (and at least 4 weeks after a COVID-19 infection). 

• If a vaccine dose was given since August 15, 2022, no further dose is required for now. 

• Booster doses further reduce transmission and increase protection – especially now that we have Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) bivalent BA.4-BA.5 booster vaccines available in Eeyou Istchee (since October 19, 2022) - which better target Omicron and its subvariants. 

Children aged 5-11 considered at increased risk of COVID-19 complications:   

Chronic heart or lung diseases severe enough to require regular medical follow up or hospital care, such as:   

• bronchopulmonary dysplasia;   

• cystic fibrosis;   

• asthma.   

Chronic conditions such as:   

• diabetes or other chronic metabolic disorders;   

• liver diseases, including cirrhosis;   

• kidney diseases;   

• blood disorders, including hemoglobinopathy, asplenia, and anemia;   

• cancer;   

• immunodeficiency disorders, including HIV infection;   

• immunosuppression caused by radiotherapy, chemotherapy or anti-rejection medications (transplants).   

Medical conditions that can affect the ability to expel secretions from the respiratory tract and the ability to swallow, including:   

• cognitive disorders;   

• spinal cord injuries;   

• seizure disorders;   

• neuromuscular disorders;   

• morbid obesity (as indicated by a BMI ≥ 40).   

Other conditions identified by the attending physician.  

The doses for children are smaller – about one-quarter of the dose given to adults and youth for the dose given to children under 5 years old, and one-third of the dose given to adults and youth for the dose given to children aged 5 to 11 years old. 

Yes.   

• A previous infection of COVID-19 protects someone from COVID-19, but that protection is not as strong or long-lasting as vaccination.

• A previous infection of COVID-19 may not protect against new variants.

• Vaccination after infection provides a much stronger and lasting protection against COVID.

For people who are NOT immunocompromised: 

• It is best to wait 3 months before getting vaccinated against COVID-19. 

For people who are immunocompromised or on dialysis: 

• It is best to wait 4 weeks after a positive test before getting dose 1, dose 2, or dose 3; though you are allowed to get it as soon as 21 days after your positive test. 

Yes. 

• Other vaccines can be given at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine.

• For example, you can safely receive the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.

• Our immune system comes into contact with thousands of germs on a daily basis, so, several vaccines at once will not overload our system. 

This has many advantages: 

• You are protected earlier against more diseases.  

• The symptoms that may occur after a vaccine are experienced only once, rather than repeatedly. 

• With fewer appointments, you save time and avoid travel. 

If your child is due to get other vaccines soon (according to their immunization schedule), do not delay the COVID-19 vaccine. 

• Talk to your health care provider at the CMC, they can help answer your questions.   

1. Make a plan. Talk ahead of time about the upcoming vaccination– tell your kid what they can expect and let them ask questions. 
2. Offer choices.  Let them choose how they might be distracted (like a favorite toy, video, or listening to you tell a story), or if they prefer to squeeze your hand or count during the injection. They may also choose if they want to watch or look away, how they want to be positioned, and in which arm they want the injection. 
3. Let them know you understand their worries and feelings.  Instead of saying “it’s just a shot”, try: “Crying is OK. It’s OK to share how you feel. I will stay with you.” 
4. Reassure them. Assure them that you’ll be there for your child during the injection, and you’ll get through it together. Use words that tell a positive story. You can say things like “pressure”, “pinch” or “poke” instead of “pain” or “shot”.  
5. Let them know they did a good job. Praising a child afterward with “you did it” or “I’m so proud of you for doing it” can also help. 

Yes.    

• The COVID-19 vaccines have been studied for safety and effectiveness in clinical trials involving hundreds of thousands of children in many different countries.   

• Vaccination of children aged 5-11 with the Pediatric Comirnaty (Pediatric Pfizer) vaccine began in Eeyou Istchee on November 24, 2021.    

• Vaccination of children aged 6 months to 4 years old with the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine began in Eeyou Istchee on July 28, 2022. 

• Booster doses for children aged 5 to 11 years old became available for children in Eeyou Istchee on August 30, 2022.  

• All COVID-19 vaccines that are in use in Canada have been approved by Health Canada, and were put through all the steps of the vaccine approval process.   

• Experts are closely monitoring any adverse reactions that could occur following vaccination and are taking steps to ensure that the vaccine is used safely.   

• No safety concerns have been reported so far for the use of Spikevax (Moderna) in children aged 6 months to 4 years old and for the use of Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) in children aged 5 to 11 years old.

• The COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials involving hundreds of thousands of children in many different countries. 

• The clinical trials looked at safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.  

• They also compared safety and effectiveness across different age groups. 

• Reactions to the vaccine are rarer among children than in teenagers and adults. They occur more often with the second dose.  

• Using an interval of 8 weeks or more between doses allows a better efficacy and reduces the frequency of reactions after vaccination.  

• In youngsters, pain is most often felt at the injection site. Younger children may express this by crying more or being more irritable.
  • Less than 1 out of every 2 children may have: redness or swelling at the injection site, headache, fatigue, muscle soreness.  
  • Less than 1 out of 10 children may have fever or shivering, diarrhea, vomiting or joint pain.  
  • Less than 1 out of 100 children may experience swollen armpit lymph nodes. 

• Most side effects only last for 1 or 2 days and occur more often after the second dose.  

• Rare cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the heart) have been observed in older children and adults, most often after the 2nd dose.  

• For children aged 5 to 11 years, this risk may be lower with Pfizer pediatric vaccine.  

• No cases have occurred in children aged 6 months to 5 years old. 

• Very rare severe allergic reactions may occur – the risk is present with all other vaccines. The risk is less than 2 people out of 100 000 would experience this type of reaction which occurs in the first few minutes after vaccination.  

• This is why we ask to wait 15 minutes after the injection. The Cree Health Board staff has all the necessary emergency equipment readily available if that were to happen. 

If your child has any side effects from the vaccine:

• Apply a cold, damp compress at the injection site to reduce pain, swelling, redness or itching.  

• Take medicine like Tylenol or Ibuprofen like Advil to lower fever and discomfort.  

• See a doctor if there is chest pain, palpitations or shortness of breath. 

• Call the clinic if side effects last more than 2 days, or if you are worried about the side effects that your child is experiencing. 

1. Why should children get the COVID19 vaccine now?

• Children have endured significant and profound impacts in the pandemic. School disruptions, social isolation, fewer activities.
• Our young children have not been able to benefit from the protection vaccination offers.
• Vaccinating children in Eeyou Istchee and elsewhere is a major step forward.
• In Eeyou Istchee, children aged 511 make up onefifth of our population (about 2,500 children).
• Vaccination offers children protection against getting very sick. It reduces the chance of spreading the virus to people around them.
• When children are vaccinated, it will mean families and communities will be better protected.
• It means families can gather with more ease.
• Vaccination is a personal choice. We want people to get the right information, and talk about it with their families.

2. Many people have questions about the vaccine and children. I’d like to talk about a few of those questions now.

a. How safe is the vaccine?

• The Pfizer vaccine is safe for children aged 511, and it works.
• The vaccine was approved in Canada after a review of broad and thorough clinical trials involving hundreds of thousands of children in several countries.

b. How was it tested?

• Through clinical trials involving hundreds of thousands of children in several countries.
• This review was done to determine the vaccine’s safety for use with children, and the vaccine’s efficacy in protecting children against COVID19.
• The trials also show that the vaccine is highly effective (90,7% against symptomatic COVID19, 7 days after dose 2).
• Children produce a similar level of antibodies as older youth.
• Children who get a COVID19 vaccine will receive a smaller dose, about 1/3 of the dose given to adults and youth.

c. What are the side effects?

• Vaccinating children sometime involves side effects. Side effects are normal with all vaccinations. They are temporary, often mild and will pass.
• The common side effect was a sore arm.

3. What can parents, guardians and caregivers do to make vaccination more comfortable for their children?

• Talk to them about the process, and what will happen at the clinic before their appointment.
• Bring a favorite toy.
• Let them watch a video or favorite show during the appointment.
• The health board is offering colouring materials at the clinic for kids to use after their appointment.

4. Where will the vaccine be offered to children?

• At the CMC, and in some communities, at school. People should check with their school and CMC about where the vaccine will be offered.

5. How can people make an appointment?

• People can make appointments on Clic Sante.  Parents and guardians can also sign the consent form at the same time.
• They can also provide consent at the clinic, at the time of vaccination.

6. Will children be required to get a vaccination passport like older youth and adults?

At this time, NO. Children won’t need to get a vaccination passport with proof of vaccination.