November 19, 2021
The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) welcomes Health Canada’s approval today of the first COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old. As our patients’ most trusted resource in matters of health, family doctors stand ready to support this crucial phase of the vaccine rollout and the opportunity to protect more Ontarians.
Health Canada has determined the vaccine to be safe and effective for younger children and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any potential risks for this age group.
Rising COVID-19 pediatric cases and hospitalizations in unvaccinated children means there is greater risk than ever for severe and long-lasting health challenges for this population. Vaccinating children 5 to 11 years old is a critical step both to protect the individual and contribute to community protection which will help restore a more normal life. For kids, this means getting back to being kids, staying in school and taking part in the activities they enjoy – which is so important to their learning and wellbeing.
Family doctors play a vital role in children’s immunization and will be central to an effective rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to young Ontarians. The OCFP and our family physician members look forward to working with the Ministry of Health and Public Health to ensure equitable access to vaccines by children across the province.
With our trusted role, we are committed to continuing the conversations to support informed decisions by our patients, encouraging families to get vaccinated and continuing public health measures – especially mask wearing and physical distancing – which are all key to fighting the COVID-19 virus.
About the Ontario College of Family Physicians
The Ontario College of Family Physicians represents more than 15,000 family physicians across the province. We support our members by providing evidence-based education and professional development, promoting and recognizing leadership excellence in family medicine, and advocating for the vital role family physicians play in delivering the highest-quality care to patients and families across Ontario.
A not-for-profit and voluntary organization, the OCFP was established in 1954 and is the provincial chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. (ontariofamilyphysicians.ca)