COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for Children Age 5-11

Posted On Thursday February 10, 2022

We are shring the following parent/guardian letter from the Durham Region Health Department.

Dear Parent or Guardian, 

Re:  Age 5-11 COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics 

February 9, 2022 

We are pleased to inform you that clinics will be organized at your school to provide first and/or second doses of COVID-19 vaccine to students aged 5-11 years of age during school hours.  For these COVID-19 vaccination clinics we are requiring the consent of parents/guardians.  

If you wish to attend a COVID-19 vaccination clinic with your child we will be planning evening clinics in February and March in a community school but these may not necessarily be in your child’s school. We will inform you of the school evening clinics in the very near future. 

Vaccines are safe and continue to be the most effective strategy to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.   The COVID-19 vaccine for children age 5-11 is a two-dose series.  Although children and youth are less likely to get very sick from COVID-19, they can still:

  • be infected and not have any symptoms
  • spread COVID-19 to others
  • experience rare complications or longer-term effects if they do get infected 

Vaccination Clinics for Students 

Students aged 5 to 11 require parental or guardian consent to participate in the vaccine clinic that will operate during the school day. Parents should check their child’s backpack as consent forms will be sent home with your child from school. No child aged 5-11 will be vaccinated in a school clinic without parental consent. 

For your child to be vaccinated, you must read, sign, and return the consent form to the school by February 16, 2022. Returned consent forms will be provided to the Durham Region Health Department and will be used for planning clinic dates during the month of February and March. Further information about the dates and times specific to your child’s school will be provided in the upcoming weeks. 

Vaccines will be given during school hours, without parental presence. A parent/guardian will need to be available by phone, should the need arise for a nurse to contact them during your child’s vaccination time. Your child will need to be able to identify themselves by telling the nurse two pieces of information such as name, date of birth, address, or phone number. If they are unable to do so, they will not receive vaccine at the school clinic.

If you choose to withdraw consent, you must email consent@durham.ca by 8 AM the day of your child’s vaccine appointment.   

You do not need to complete the consent form if you do not want your child vaccinated at the school.   

 

Preparing Your Child for Vaccination 

While COVID-19 vaccinations are safe, we understand you or your child may have questions about the vaccine. Please speak to your child about the many benefits of being vaccinated against COVID-19. To prepare your child for vaccination, please review Facts About COVID-19 Vaccine For Children 5-11, My COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap, and CARD Tool for further information. If you have further questions, please call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-666-6242 or 1-800-841-2729.  

Please note, it is important to have your child vaccinated as soon as possible. If you would prefer to have your child immunized outside of the school setting and/or at an earlier date than late February and March, please visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines for information on how you can access the COVID-19 vaccine at our local community vaccination clinics. 

Sincerely,  

Regina Elliott RN, MN
Program Manager
Durham Region Health Department