Parents and guardians of children aged five to 11 can book their child’s first COVID-19 booster vaccine appointment starting today, September 1, with appointments beginning Tuesday, September 6.

For most children in Nova Scotia, the recommended interval between the last dose of the primary vaccine series and a first booster dose is 168 days (the primary series is the first two vaccine doses for most children). Children who have had COVID-19 should wait 168 days from the time of their infection before receiving their booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Some children, such as those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, are eligible for a shortened interval of 120 days since the last dose of their three-dose primary series. If these children have had COVID-19, they should wait 120 days from the time of their infection before receiving their booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

If children aged five to 11 have not completed their primary vaccine series, parents and guardians are encouraged to book those appointments as soon as possible so their children are well protected this fall.

Vaccine appointments can be booked online at https://novascotia.ca/vaccination or by calling 1-833-797-7772. Vaccine scheduling by phone is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Quick Facts:
 — the Province has adopted the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s (NACI’s) recommendations on offering a first booster dose of Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to children aged five to 11 and offering a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the fall to people 12 and older
— the Pfizer pediatric vaccine is the only vaccine available as a booster for children aged five to 11

Additional Resources:
NACI’s recommendations for a booster dose for children aged five to 11: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/recommendations-use-first-booster-dose-pfizer-biontech-comirnaty-covid-19-vaccine-children-5-11-years.pdf

Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan: https://novascotia.ca/vaccineplan

Vaccination resources for youth and families: https://www.iwk.nshealth.ca/COVID-19/vaccination-resources

More information on who is considered immunocompromised is available at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/immunocompromised/

Source: Release