MEMO: COVID-19 Vaccination in Children 5-11 Years of Age ​ 

TO:  Health Care Providers Who Administer Vaccines to Children 5-11 Years Old  

FROM: Pandemic Response Division, Niagara Region Public Health

REFERENCE: COVID-19 Vaccination in Children 5-11 Years of Age

DATE:  Nov. 15, 2021

Health Canada’s authorization for the use of COVID-19 vaccine in children 5-11 years of age is expected in the coming weeks, with the vaccine distribution to provinces and local communities occurring shortly thereafter. In Niagara, there are approximately 32,500 children ages 5-11 years. As a trusted and safe space for families with young children, your patients will likely be reaching out to ask questions or make vaccination appointments.

Advance Preparations

Niagara Region Public Health is offering a Physician and Primary Care Town Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021 from 2 – 3 p.m. In this virtual session, Dr. Hirji will address the science behind why it’s important to vaccinate this age group, timelines for the vaccine rollout, dose information, resources for health care providers to address hesitancy, and will provide an opportunity for questions.

Once approval for COVID-19 vaccination in children 5-11 years of age is announced, Niagara Region Public Health will provide elementary and high schools with

• An information package for parents and legal guardians. This package will include
  • Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
  • Encouragement for parents and legal guardians with questions to visit our website and/or to speak with their health care provider
• Promotion of a virtual Town Hall for Parents and Guardians. Details will be posted on our website and shared through Niagara Parents Facebook and Twitter.

Implications for Your Practice

• Primary care providers and pediatricians will play a critical role in helping to vaccinate this age group. Parents and children in this age group receive almost all their vaccines from their health care provider, and so will look to you for this vaccine as well. COVID-19 vaccination will also be available through Public Health mass immunization clinics and pharmacies.
• In order to administer COVID-19 vaccine, your office must be an approved COVID-19 vaccine site. To express interest in administering vaccine or to request more information email HCPengagement@niagararegion.ca.
• We know that parents are going to have many questions about vaccinating their children. Please assist families by communicating to parents the safety and importance of getting their child vaccinated and in making an appointment to get their children 5-11 years of age vaccinated.
  • If you administer vaccines directly in your office, you can bill a G593+Q593 (out-of-basket at $18.60 per patient)
  • Family physicians working in Patient Enrolment Models are eligible to use billing code Q007 if they help patients arrange for a COVID-19 vaccination encounter. (Not for those providing only general information around how to access or register for an appointment, or where a family physician administers vaccine to the patient and bills for the vaccination service)
  • For more information, please read the Ontario Health Insurance Plan InfoBulletin.
• Encourage parents/guardians who still have questions to visit Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination in Children and Youth webpage.

School Requirements & Medical Exemptions

• On Oct. 28, 2021, Dr. Kieran Moore indicated that Ontario will not be adding COVID-19 vaccinations to the list of immunizations for students to attend school
• Currently there are no COVID-19 vaccine exemption affidavits for adults or children as there is no vaccine requirement from which to be exempted

More Information

Expect full details on the roll-out from Public Health after Health Canada has authorized the vaccine, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has issued its recommendations, and the Ontario Government has released its plan

If you have questions about this memo, please call the COVID-19 Primary Care Info-Line call at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074, press 7, then 1 for physicians. The line is staffed Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.