News Release: 5 to 11-Year-Olds Now Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines in Health Unit District

NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND – Arthur Hyndman is one of the first five-year-olds in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) region to receive a dose of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. His mother, Lianne, is one of more than 1,000 parents and guardians in the district who booked an appointment for their child within 24 hours of appointments opening up to individuals in the five to 11-year-old age group.

For Arthur, being able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 gives him hope that one day soon he’ll no longer have to wear a face covering out in public. For Lianne, it’s about so much more.

“Finally having Arthur vaccinated against COVID-19 is a huge relief,” says Lianne. “It’s another step towards resuming our normal routines without any interruptions, being able to travel across the border as a family again without quarantine, and not having to worry so much when I take him to visit his grandparents or send him to school.”

This isn’t the first time Lianne signed up for the first vaccine available. She received Moderna for her first dose, and Pfizer for her second dose earlier this year.

“Arthur has a two-year-old sister at home, and we’re hopeful that the vaccine is one day approved for her age group, too. Vaccinating more people means protecting more people, and that’s what the world needs, and what our healthcare systems need, to put this pandemic behind us.”

The Health Unit has had excellent uptake for COVID-19 vaccination bookings for individuals five to 11 years of age. At 8 a.m. on Nov. 23, the provincial booking portal launched child and youth specific clinics. Before noon the same day, the first child and youth clinic in North Bay was fully booked, and two days later, five child and youth clinics were fully booked.

The Health Unit has child and youth COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled for the remainder of November and into December. Parents and guardians can view the schedule and book an appointment at myhealthunit.ca/GetVaccinated. At this time, child and youth clinics are not open to walk-ins.

Anyone with concerns about the children’s COVID-19 vaccine is encouraged to visit myhealthunit.ca/KidsCOVIDVaccine for more information. 

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Media Inquiries:

Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca