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Just Ask Angie: How do I register my six-year-old for the COVID-19 vaccine?

What you need to know about your child getting the vaccine on the Sunshine Coast
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Q: Now that the kids vaccine is approved, how do I register my little one for their COVID-19 vaccine and also get more information?

A: Those are good questions! Now that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for kids aged five to 11 has been approved in Canada, as with getting other age-groups vaccinated, registering is the first step in the process to getting young ones in your care vaccinated.

You can register your five- to 11-year-old – or anyone older who still would like to get the vaccine – online, by phone or in person. This way, when appointments become available, you will get a text, email or phone call when it’s your turn to book a vaccine appointment.

To register your child or children you’ll need to provide their: first and last name;  date of birth; postal code; personal health number (PHN); an email address that gets checked regularly or a phone number that can receive text messages.

To register online: visit getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca. (This is the quickest option, if you are comfortable online.) To register on the phone: 1-833-838-2323. (If your kids don’t have a PHN, B.C.’s website says to register by phone). To register in-person here on the Coast: Visit our local Service BC office in Sechelt at 5498 Wharf Avenue, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Q: How do I get more information to address concerns I have about the ages five to 11 kids’ vaccine?

A: It’s normal to have questions. The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) website is a go-to resource for science-based facts that can speak to your questions and concerns around the vaccine. The “Children and COVID-19 Vaccination” page is a source of science-based information that is updated on an ongoing basis: bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/vaccines-children.

Healthlink BC is a free provincial health information resource and advice phone line available here in B.C. Call them free at 8-1-1 with your question. On the Healthlink BC website, there is a page called “Children, Youth and Families During COVID-19.” If you scroll down to the bottom of that page, the “Children with Special Health Needs” section has links to information specific to COVID-19 and various health conditions like autism, paediatric asthma and others: healthlinkbc.ca/covid-19/child-families-covid-19.

While social media can be tricky since there is no limit of misinformation out there, there are verified accounts that can be great ways to get easy-to-understand information around the kids’ vaccine and beyond. Here are a couple Instagram accounts to check out:

@covidvaccinefacts: “Canadian physicians answering your questions & navigating the pandemic with evidence.”

@unbiasedscipod:  An account linked to “The unbiased Science Podcast.” It is not only focused on COVID-19 and vaccines but is an interesting account that keeps tabs on kids’ COVID-19 vaccines.

Angie Theilmann is an information and referral specialist at the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre, your community information hub. The Resource Centre is open Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are recommended to be sure we are available to help you. Drop-ins welcome. Contact us: help@resourcecentre.ca or 604-885-4088.