COVID-19 youth vaccination FAQ

When we vaccinate our youth, we are protecting them from serious illness while also helping to make our communities less vulnerable.   

• The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the potential risks of getting COVID-19.   

• If a vaccinated youth does get infected with COVID-19 after vaccination, their chances of ending up in hospital or of dying are much lower.   

• Some people, including young people, have long-term complications after getting COVID-19.   

• Vaccinating youth, who tend to be highly social, will help slow down the rate of COVID-19 transmission.  

• Youth who are fully vaccinated are able to participate more safely, and with greater ease in group activities, gatherings, and school.  

• Clinical trials suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is close to 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in youth 12-15 years old, 7 days after two doses.  

• The protection would be lower against the new Omicron variant, but still good, especially against complications due to COVID-19 infections which increase the risk of being hospitalized. 

The more people are vaccinated, the safer we all become.  

• Some people, including young people, have long-term complications after getting COVID-19 (for example fatigue, trouble breathing, weakness, difficulty falling/staying asleep, and concentrating). The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the potential risks of getting COVID-19.   

• Even if you are already healthy, vaccination allows your immune system to fight the virus faster and more efficiently if you are ever exposed to it. This means you are less likely to get sick.   

• It is important for each of us to get vaccinated so that we can at least ensure our own safety, and hopefully decrease the spread of the virus in our communities.  

• Vaccination is the best protection against COVID-19 and its complications.   

• Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 can help stop other variants from emerging. Vaccination helps to reduce community transmission and therefore reduces the virus’ chance to mutate into new variants that may be more dangerous.  

• The virus can transmit easily between unvaccinated children and adults, giving new variants a chance to emerge. 

• Clinical trials suggest that the Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine is close to 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in youth 12-15 years old, 7 days after two doses. Recent US data (with Omicron circulating) indicates that infection protection ranged from 44% to 74% in adolescents vaccinated with two doses of Comirnaty.

• Booster doses further reduce transmission and increase protection. 

• Although the protection against getting infected is lower, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines still significantly reduce the risk of developing complications due to a COVID-19 infection.

• For example, recent US data indicates that the vaccine is 91% effective at preventing the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a condition that can occur in children and teens under 21 ages of age who get infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID).   

Yes.  

• The Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine is approved by Health Canada.   

•  It was put through all the steps of the vaccine approval process.  

• High quality studies were also performed on a large sample of people.  

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

Most reactions are harmless and do not last long. Common side effects may include:  

• Pain at the injection site  

• Headache or fatigue  

• Muscle or joint pain  

• Chills or fever  

• Some patients may also develop some redness or swelling at the injection site, nausea or swelling of the armpit lymph nodes (less than 1 person out of 10).

• The majority of youth 12 -15 years old only experience fatigue or headache.  

• Side effects are more common after the second dose.  

Please note:   

• In a very small number of people (around 2 people out of 100,000), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) or pericarditis (inflammation around the heart) has been reported after immunization with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna).   

• Myocarditis or pericarditis occur more frequently in young males under the age of 30 following the 2nd dose, and more frequently with Moderna. Cases present most often with mild symptoms and recover quickly.

• It is important to consult a doctor if you develop chest pain, palpitations or shortness of breath in the following weeks. 

The nurses on our vaccinating team are very skilled. They will use a needle that is just long enough to inject the vaccine in your arm muscle - it will be like a small mosquito bite!  

• The arm that was vaccinated might be a little sore. It can last a few hours to a few days (usually 1-2 days).  

• Some people have headaches, and are very tired for a while.  

• You could also have a bit of a fever, chills and sore muscles.   

• These side effects are signs are normal and temporary.   

• They are signs that your immune system is building antibodies against the COVID-19 virus.   

• Your parents can give you some Tylenol or Advil to relieve your pain.  

• Side effects are more common after the second dose.  

Yes.   

• Health Canada approved the Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine for youth 12-17 on May 5, 2021, and approved the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine for youth 12-17 on August 27, 2021.  

• The Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine is preferred for people 12 - 29 years old.     

• People 12 to 17 years old receive the same dosage that is administered to adults.  

• Quebec started vaccinating youth 12-17 on May 28, 2021 and Eeyou Istchee started their youth 12-17 vaccination campaign on June 2, 2021.  

• Booster doses are now being offered to youth 12 – 17 years old, since February 18 2022. They are strongly recommended for those who are at high risk.   

• A booster dose is offered to young people 12 to 17 years old who want it.  

Youth aged 12-17 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.  

• Youths 14 years old and up can give their own consent for the COVID-19 vaccine.  

• Youths 12 - 13 years old need the consent of a parent or legal guardian to be vaccinated. The nurse will give you a form your parents need to sign. Once you bring it back to the nurse, she will be able to vaccinate you. If your parents are with you, they can give their consent verbally.  

• Both the Spikevax (Moderna) and Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccines are now approved for anyone aged 12 years and over.   

• However, the Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine is preferred for anyone aged 12-29 because there is a lower risk of myocarditis or pericarditis (a rare complication) than with the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine in youth under the age of 30. 

For youth 12 - 17 years old: 

• Two (2) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are needed to complete the primary vaccine series (baseline vaccination), whether it is the Spikevax (Moderna) or Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine. The 2nd dose is recommended to be given 8 weeks after the 1st dose.  

• A booster dose is available for any youth 12 – 17, and is strongly recommended for youth at high-risk of having complications from COVID-19 or who live in a closed group environment (like the Youth Healing Centre). The booster dose is given 5 months since the last COVID-19 dose (and at least 3 months after a COVID-19 infection).

• A maximum of one booster dose is offered to healthy youth aged 12-17 (total of 3 doses).

• Youth aged 12-17 with a chronic disease may get more than one booster dose (given five months after the last COVID-19 dose)    

Youth (12 - 17 years old) who are immunocompromised or on dialysis 

• Need an additional dose (3rd dose) to complete their primary vaccine series (baseline vaccination), with an interval of 4 weeks in between doses.  

• They also require booster doses, given three months after the last COVID-19 dose (and at least 4 weeks after a COVID-19 infection).

• A booster dose increases protection for people who have already completed their baseline vaccination.   

• When you get a booster shot, it reminds your body’s immune system how to fight the virus if you are exposed to it.   

Only a severe allergy (anaphylaxis) to one of the components of the vaccine could prevent you from getting the Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine, such as an allergy to polyethyleneglycol (PEG).   

• If you have an allergy to polyethyleneglycol (PEG), you would be referred to an allergist.   

• You may get vaccinated if you have other allergies (such as food allergies, or allergies to other products that do not contain one of the COVID-19 components).  

The Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine contains the following ingredients:   

• messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)   

• lipids: ALC-0315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl) bis (hexane-6,1-diyl) bis (2-hexyldecanoate), ALC-0159 = 2 - [(polyethylene glycol) -2000] -N, N -ditetradecylacetamide, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and cholesterol;   

• potassium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate and sucrose;   

• the diluent consisting of sterile water and sodium chloride.   

The Spikevax (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine contains the following ingredients:  

• messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA);  

• lipids: 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, SM-102, polyethylene glycol-2000 DMG (1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycerol, methoxy-polyethylene glycol) and cholesterol;  

• tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid and sucrose;  

• water for injection.  

Please note: 

A youth that has a history of an immediate allergic reaction) to a vaccine containing polysorbate (including influenza vaccines) can get vaccinated against COVID-19, but would be monitored for 30 min after the injection (instead of 15 min).  

• You should receive a link via email or SMS to download your updated proof of vaccination with QR code after getting your vaccine if you have provided your email or cellphone number to the vaccination team.  

• If you do not have a smartphone, please ask for a printed copy when on site.  

• You should automatically receive this proof if you have signed up on Clic-Santé. 

• Electronic proof can be obtained through a self-service portal launched by the Quebec government, whether or not you signed up for a vaccine appointment through Clic-Santé. 

Get your electronic proof here: https://covid19.quebec.ca/PreuveVaccinale.  

How to do it: COVID-19 proof of vaccination in Eeyou Istchee - Updated | Cree Health 

How to sign-up on Clic-Santé: https://clients3.clicsante.ca/60001/take-appt 

For assistance: 18TCR.CovidVaccinationForms@ssss.gouv.qc.ca