Kids age 12 to 17 will be rolling up their sleeves soon.
The Yukon has made a deal with the federal government to acquire enough of the Pfizer vaccine to vaccinate all of the territory’s youth aged 12 to 17 by mid July. Minister of Health and Social Services Tracey-Anne McPhee made the announcement alongside Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley at this morning’s COVID update.
“Our community isn’t fully protected until our children and youth are.” Said McPhee.
The announcement comes at a time when McPhee says variants are hitting young people harder.
Youth vaccination clinics will be headed to communities soon. Medical travel will be supported where clinics are not held. Neither McPhee or Dr. Hanley announced a date but they expect the logistics will be “lined up” within the next four weeks and vaccinations will start as soon as possible.
Dr. Hanley says older children will be able to walk in to clinics to get their shot but younger children will have to go through a consent process.
More details about the vaccine rollout for youth will be shared with First Nations, communities and families in the coming weeks.
The Pfizer vaccine was recently approved for people 12 and up. Dr. Hanley says he thinks the Moderna vaccine could be approved for kids soon, giving Yukoners more options.
Dr. Hanley also says the Pfizer vaccine is easier to handle than Monderna.
“Although it still requires long term storage at ultra-cold temperatures, the Pfizer vaccine can now be released from that -70, to normal freezer temperatures long enough to move around over a matter of days.” Said Dr. Hanley.
Dr. Hanley says some extra training will be needed for the territory’s immunizers.
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