AB Government: Pfizer pediatric vaccine rollout to begin
Press Release
With more than 394,000 pediatric doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arriving in the province, Alberta will begin taking vaccine bookings for five to 11 year olds on Nov. 24.
The doses are being distributed to 120 Alberta Health Services vaccination clinics across the province and four pharmacies in communities where AHS clinics are not nearby.
Appointments will be required for all pediatric vaccinations and bookings will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Appointments for first doses will begin as early as Friday, Nov. 26. More details on locations where parents can book appointments will be available in the coming days.
“The wait is nearly over for Alberta families with children between the ages of five and 11. Now that there is a safe, effective vaccine approved for use for these youngsters, and with doses arriving in the province, we can start booking appointments. Within days, we will begin administering the first pediatric doses, helping to ensure even more Albertans are protected from COVID-19.”
Jason Kenney, Premier
“Provincial teams are quickly distributing the newly arrived Pfizer pediatric vaccine to more than 100 locations across Alberta. Our immunization program continues to be one of the best in Canada and we are ready to safely and quickly make these doses available for young Albertans.”
Jason Copping, Minister of Health
“The evidence is clear that the pediatric Pfizer vaccine is highly effective at limiting the spread of COVID-19. Parents who choose to have their young children vaccinated against this virus will not only help to protect their kids but their families and communities too.”
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health
Booking a vaccination appointment for children aged five to 11
Pediatric vaccinations will be administered at Alberta Health Services clinics around the province. Vaccines will also be available at four pharmacies where AHS clinics are not conveniently located. First-dose appointments must be booked through the Alberta Vaccine Booking System at alberta.ca/vaccine or by calling Health Link at 811. Walk-ins are not available at this time.
Children five to 11 years of age who live on a First Nations reserve will also be able to access doses through nursing stations or public health clinics on-reserve.
The recommended interval between the first and second doses for children aged five to 11 is at least eight weeks. It is also recommended that children should wait at least 14 days between receiving the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine and another type of vaccine.
Restrictions Exemption Program
Children under 12 years of age will continue to have access to businesses and venues participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program, regardless of their vaccination status. This will provide parents and guardians the time to decide if and when their young children will be protected against COVID-19.
Children aged 12 and under are able to access facilities with their parents or guardians who meet the program requirements, as well as participate in youth activities while following current public health measures.
Quick facts
- Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine approved for use in children aged five to 11 in Canada.
- Health Canada approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11 on November 19. It has also been approved for use in the U.S.
- More than 391,000 Albertans aged five to 11 are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
- To date in Alberta:
- For children aged five to 11, there have been about 30,700 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed since March of 2020, with 78 of those cases ending up in hospital and 20 in intensive care.
Related information
- Book your COVID-19 vaccine appointment
- COVID-19 vaccines and records information
- AHS information on vaccine booking
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