Vaccine Bookings for Children Under 5, Boosters for Some Pregnant People

Parents and guardians of children aged six months to under five years can book their child’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment starting today, July 28.

Children will need two doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least eight weeks apart. Moderately to severely immunocompromised children will need three doses of vaccine, with at least four weeks between the first and second dose and eight weeks between the second and third dose. Children will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their last dose.

Pregnant people who have not had a COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant and whose babies are due before November 30 should get an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

Pregnant people are at increased risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. Evidence shows that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant provides immunity to both the pregnant person and the fetus. Infants of people who were vaccinated during pregnancy have lower rates of hospitalization in their first six months.

Appointments can be booked online at https://novascotia.ca/vaccination or by calling 1-833-797-7772. Vaccine scheduling by phone is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Initial supply of the vaccine for children in this age group will be limited, but more appointments will be added once shipments from the federal government arrive.

Quick Facts:

• there are about 34,000 children aged six months to four years in Nova Scotia
• the Province has adopted the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s recommendations on Moderna’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine
• children who have been infected with COVID-19 should wait eight weeks between infection and starting or completing their vaccine series
• if children are receiving other routine pediatric vaccines, those vaccines can only be administered at least 14 days before or after the COVID-19 vaccine

Additional Resources:

NACI’s recommendations on Moderna’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children aged six months to five years: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/naci-summary-july-14-2022.pdf

More information on who is considered immunocompromised: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/immunocompromised/

Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan: https://novascotia.ca/vaccineplan

Vaccination resources for youth and families: https://www.iwk.nshealth.ca/COVID-19/vaccination-resources