Ontario has now approved the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine for five to 11 year olds, however parents wishing to book their children for a bivalent booster will have to wait until December 21st.

The province is strongly encouraging residents to keep up to date with the flu and Covid-19 vaccinations to restore any protection they may have lost since a previous dose. This, it says, remains the best way for people to stay healthy this winter and prevent unnecessary visits to the hospital.

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones says as the weather gets colder and more residents spend time together indoors this holiday season, vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself from the most serious effects of Covid-19 and influenza. “Vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and its variants and will help ease pressures on our hospitals and emergency departments.”

Bivalent boosters target both the original strain of Covid-19 plus it can provide better protection against the other variants currently circulating.

Appointments can be booked through the Covid-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.