Youth ages 12-17 in Waterloo region will be able to get fully vaccinated before school starts

Youth between ages 12 and 17 in Waterloo region will be able to get two Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses before school begins in the fall, according to the head of the region's vaccine task force.

Deputy Chief Shirley Hilton of Waterloo Regional Police said Wednesday the region has received direction from the Ontario government to prioritize first doses for children and teenagers. 

Invitations will be sent Friday to youth and their immediate family members, Hilton said at a meeting of the region's board of health. 

First-dose vaccinations are expected to take place between June 7 and June 25 at the region's large vaccine clinics.

Hilton said these youth will also be prioritized to get their final second dose by Aug. 22 — about two weeks before school begins in September. 

Waiting to hear about 2nd doses

Health Canada authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents between 12 and 15 earlier this month. Before that, the age cutoff was 16. 

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So far, school-age youth are the only age group that's been prioritized to get a second dose ahead of schedule, the region's medical officer of health said. 

But Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang also said that could soon change. 

"I expect we'll probably hear something about that soon."  

As of Wednesday, 57 per cent of eligible residents over age 18 in Waterloo region have received at least one dose, while 75 per cent of those 60 and up have received at least one.