COVID-19 youth vaccination FAQ

When we vaccinate our youth, we are protecting them from serious illness while also helping to make our communities less vulnerable.    

• The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the potential risks of getting COVID-19.    

• If a vaccinated youth does get infected with COVID-19 after vaccination, their chances of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 and needing hospital care are much lower.  

• Some people, including young people, have long-term complications after getting COVID-19. This is called post COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID). Post COVID condition may occur in some people weeks or months after their initial infection, even in people who didn’t have symptoms or had only mild to moderate symptoms during initial infection. The most common symptoms that we know in youth include: fatigue, shortness of breath, lack of concentration, headaches, abdominal pain, muscle aches and pains or joint pains, sleep problems. 

• Vaccinating youth, who tend to be highly social, will help slow down the rate of COVID-19 transmission.   

• Recent data (with Omicron circulating) indicates that infection protection ranged from 44% to 74% in adolescents vaccinated with two doses of Comirnaty. Booster doses further reduce transmission and increase protection – especially now that we have Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) bivalent BA.4-BA.5 booster vaccines available in Eeyou Istchee (since October 19, 2022) - which better target Omicron and its subvariants 

• mRNA COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce the risk of developing complications due to a COVID-19 infection. For example, recent US data indicates that the vaccine is 91% effective at preventing the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a condition that can occur in children and teens under 21 ages of age who get infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID).   

The more people are vaccinated, the safer we all become.   

• Some people, including young people, have long-term complications after getting COVID-19 (for example fatigue, trouble breathing, weakness, difficulty falling/staying asleep, and concentrating). This is called Post COVID-19 Condition (also known as long COVID). Post COVID Condition may occur in some people weeks or months after their initial infection, even in people who didn’t have symptoms or had only mild to moderate symptoms during initial infection. The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the potential risks of getting COVID-19.    

• Even if you are already healthy, vaccination allows your immune system to fight the virus faster and more efficiently if you are ever exposed to it. This means you are less likely to get sick.    

• It is important for each of us to get vaccinated so that we can at least ensure our own safety, and hopefully decrease the spread of the virus in our communities.   

• Vaccination is the best protection against COVID-19 and its complications.    

• Recent data (with Omicron circulating) indicates that infection protection ranged from 44% to 74% in adolescents vaccinated with two doses of Comirnaty.   

• Booster doses further reduce transmission and increase protection – especially now that we have Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) bivalent BA.4-BA.5 booster vaccines available in Eeyou Istchee (since October 19, 2022) - which better target Omicron and its subvariants 

• Recent US data indicates that the vaccine is 91% effective at preventing the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a condition that can occur in children and teens under 21 ages of age who get infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID).   

Yes.  

•  All COVID-19 vaccines that are in use in Canada have been approved by Health Canada, and were put through all the steps of the vaccine approval process.   

• Experts are closely monitoring any adverse reactions that could occur following vaccination and are taking steps to ensure that the vaccine is used safely. 

Most reactions are harmless and do not last long. Common side effects may include:  

• Pain at the injection site  

• Headache or fatigue  

• Muscle or joint pain  

• Chills or fever  

• Some patients may also develop some redness or swelling at the injection site, nausea or swelling of the armpit lymph nodes (less than 1 person out of 10).

• The majority of youth 12 -15 years old only experience fatigue or headache.  

• Side effects are more common after the second dose.  

Please note:   

• In a very small number of people (around 2 people out of 100,000), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) or pericarditis (inflammation around the heart) has been reported after immunization with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna).   

• Myocarditis or pericarditis occur more frequently in young males under the age of 30 following the 2nd dose, and more frequently with Spikevax (Moderna). Cases present most often with mild symptoms and recover quickly.

• It is important to consult a doctor if you develop chest pain, palpitations or shortness of breath in the following weeks. 

The nurses on our vaccinating team are very skilled. They will use a needle that is just long enough to inject the vaccine in your arm muscle - it will be like a small mosquito bite!  

• The arm that was vaccinated might be a little sore. It can last a few hours to a few days (usually 1-2 days).  

• Some people have headaches, and are very tired for a while.  

• You could also have a bit of a fever, chills and sore muscles.   

• These side effects are signs are normal and temporary.   

• They are signs that your immune system is building antibodies against the COVID-19 virus.   

• Your parents can give you some Tylenol or Advil to relieve your pain.  

• Side effects are more common after the second dose.  

Yes.

• Vaccination of youth aged 12 to 17 years old with the Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine began in Eeyou Istchee on June 2, 2021. 

• Booster doses for youth aged 12 to 17 years old became available for youth in Eeyou Istchee on February 18, 2022.  

• The Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) Bivalent BA.4-BA.5 booster for 12+ became available for youth in Eeyou Istchee on October 17, 2022.

• People 12 to 17 years old receive the same dosage that is administered to adults.   

• Booster doses are offered to young people 12 to 17 years old who want it.

• Booster doses are strongly recommended to young people 12 to 17 years old at increased risk of COVID-19 complications. 

Youth aged 12-17 considered at increased risk of COVID-19 complications:   

Chronic heart or lung diseases severe enough to require regular medical follow up or hospital care, such as:   

• bronchopulmonary dysplasia;   

• cystic fibrosis;   

• asthma.   

Chronic conditions such as:   

• diabetes or other chronic metabolic disorders;   

• liver diseases, including cirrhosis;   

• kidney diseases;   

• blood disorders, including hemoglobinopathy, asplenia, and anemia;   

• cancer;   

• immunodeficiency disorders, including HIV infection;   

• immunosuppression caused by radiotherapy, chemotherapy or anti-rejection medications (transplants).   

Medical conditions that can affect the ability to expel secretions from the respiratory tract and the ability to swallow, including:   

• cognitive disorders;   

• spinal cord injuries;   

• seizure disorders;   

• neuromuscular disorders;   

• morbid obesity (as indicated by a BMI ≥ 40).   

Other conditions identified by the attending physician.   

• Youth 14 years old and up can give their own consent for the COVID-19 vaccine.  

• Youth 12 - 13 years old need the consent of a parent or legal guardian to be vaccinated. The nurse will give you a form your parents need to sign. Once you bring it back to the nurse, she will be able to vaccinate you. If your parents are with you, they can give their consent verbally.  

• Both the Spikevax (Moderna) and Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccines are approved for anyone aged 12 years and over.    

• However, the Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine is preferred for anyone aged 12-29 because there is a lower risk of myocarditis or pericarditis (a rare complication) than with the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine in youth under the age of 30.  

• The frequency of myocarditis or pericarditis is approximatively 2 cases per 100,000 doses. Cases present most often with mild symptoms and recover quickly. 

• It is important to note that while there is a small risk of myocarditis or pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination, the risk is much higher after a COVID-19 infection (about six times higher). 

For youth 12 - 17 years old: 

• Two (2) doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are needed to complete the primary vaccine series (baseline vaccination). The 2nd dose is recommended to be given 8 weeks after the 1st dose.  

• Booster doses are available for any youth 12 – 17, and are strongly recommended for youth at high-risk of having complications from COVID-19 or who live in a closed group environment (like the Youth Healing Centre). A booster dose is given if the last COVID-19 dose was more than 5 months (and at least 3 months after a COVID-19 infection). 

• A booster dose increases protection for people who have already completed their baseline vaccination.   

• When you get a booster shot, it reminds your body’s immune system how to fight the virus if you are exposed to it.  

• If a bivalent vaccine dose was given since August 15, 2022, no further dose is required for now. 

Youth (12 – 17 years old) who are immunocompromised or on dialysis  

• Need an additional dose (3rd dose) to complete their primary vaccine series (baseline vaccination), with an interval of 4 weeks in between doses.  

• They also require booster doses, given three months after the last COVID-19 dose (and at least 4 weeks after a COVID-19 infection) .

• If a bivalent vaccine dose was given since August 15, 2022, no further dose is required for now. 

• A booster dose increases protection for people who have already completed their baseline vaccination.   

• When you get a booster shot, it reminds your body’s immune system how to fight the virus if you are exposed to it.   

Yes, other vaccines can be given at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine.

For example, you can safely receive the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time. Our immune system comes into contact with thousands of germs on a daily basis. Hence, administering several vaccines at once will not overload our system. 

This has many advantages: 

• You are protected earlier against more diseases.  

• The symptoms that may occur after a vaccine are experienced only once, rather than repeatedly. 

• With fewer appointments, you save time and avoid travel. 

Only a severe allergy (anaphylaxis) to one of the components of the vaccine could prevent you from getting vaccinated against COVID-19, such as an allergy to polyethyleneglycol (PEG). 

• If you have an allergy to polyethyleneglycol (PEG), you would be referred to an allergist.   

• You may get vaccinated if you have other allergies (such as food allergies, or allergies to other products that do not contain one of the COVID-19 components).  

The Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine contains the following ingredients:   

• messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)   

• lipids: ALC-0315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl) bis (hexane-6,1-diyl) bis (2-hexyldecanoate), ALC-0159 = 2 - [(polyethylene glycol) -2000] -N, N -ditetradecylacetamide, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and cholesterol;   

• potassium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate and sucrose;   

• the diluent consisting of sterile water and sodium chloride.   

The Spikevax (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine contains the following ingredients:  

• messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA);  

• lipids: 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, SM-102, polyethylene glycol-2000 DMG (1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycerol, methoxy-polyethylene glycol) and cholesterol;  

• tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid and sucrose;  

• water for injection.  

Please note: 

A youth that has a history of an immediate allergic reaction to a vaccine containing polysorbate (including influenza vaccines) can get vaccinated against COVID-19 but would be monitored for 30 minutes after the injection (instead of 15 minutes).  

• You should receive a link via email or SMS to download your updated proof of vaccination with QR code after getting your vaccine if you have provided your email or cellphone number to the vaccination team (by adding this info on the pre-immunization questionnaire paper form).   

• If you do not have a smartphone, please ask for a printed copy when on site.  

• Electronic proof can be obtained through the self-service portal launched by the Quebec government.

For assistance, please email: 18tcr.vaccinationforms@ssss.gouv.qc.ca