Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services, issued the following statement on the COVID-19 vaccine approval for children aged five to 11:

“The announcement by Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that children aged five to 11 are now eligible to get the Comirnaty (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine is an important moment in our fight against the virus.

“Availability of an approved COVID-19 vaccine for this age group will assist us to bring the pandemic under control and ending the public health emergency in the Northwest Territories.

“The vaccine offers the greatest level of protection against COVID-19, and the Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased to be able to offer this added protection to children and their families. 

“With recent and continuing outbreaks across the NWT and Canada, getting vaccinated remains as important as ever. Schools are considered high risk environments for spread of infection. Getting your child vaccinated is vital to protecting them from COVID-19. Vaccinated students help prevent infections from occurring in schools and allow schools to remain open for in-person learning.

“Choosing to get our kids vaccinated is an effective way to protect them and limit the spread of COVID-19 in schools and communities, and make the Northwest Territories safer for everyone. It is one thing we can all do to help the whole territory get back to doing the things we love together. We know vaccines make it harder to get and pass on the virus; even if you do get it, symptoms and outcomes are usually less severe for vaccinated people.

“All approved COVID-19 vaccines have been thoroughly tested and they are safe. NWT residents can be confident that a COVID-19 vaccine is approved by Health Canada by experts, scientists, and medical professionals who have carefully reviewed all the scientific data and evidence for vaccine safety and effectiveness.

“We have had significant experience with vaccine campaigns over the last year and we are ready to for another successful roll-out. Further details on vaccination opportunities, including a full schedule and information on booking will be announced in the coming week.

“Our children have had to be so resilient throughout this pandemic.  Now this vaccine offers them a chance to have stability and hope. We encourage residents to seek out information on COVID-19 from reputable sources like the GNWT’s COVID-19 website, Health Canada or the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

“We know vaccines are safe and effective, so please book your appointment as soon as opportunities are announced.”