Horwath urges Ford to ready vaccine roll out for kids as Pfizer files for Health Canada approval

QUEEN’S PARK — Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is elated that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids age five to 11 has been submitted for Health Canada approval — and said that means there’s no time left to waste in releasing a plan to get all eligible kids in Ontario vaccinated quickly.

Horwath wants the COVID-19 vaccine added to the existing list of student vaccines, alongside shots students must get, like measles and mumps vaccines.

“Parents are anxious to get their little ones vaccinated so they’re protected — and there is real relief and excitement about that their turn is coming soon,” said Horwath. “But what they don’t have, and what they should have, is information from the Ford government about how it’s going to roll out.

“If I were premier today, I’d have a plan out there now that includes in-school clinics and early registration, so that when the approval comes, we can get all children their first dose literally within days.”

Parents in British Columbia have been able to preregister their children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine — something Horwath and Ontario’s NDP have been asking the government to do since August.

“No one wants to see a repeat of the scrambling, the vaccine hunting, and the wait-and-see approach from Doug Ford that frustrated the adult vaccine rollout. For once, let’s get out in front of this and be ready, so that the moment Health Canada approves the vaccine for kids, we can launch a well-organized, convenient vaccination operation.”