The Northwest TerritoriesSA国际影视传媒� premier and health minister have praised Health CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 decision to approve the Covid-19 vaccine for children.

On Friday, Health Canada announced its approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5-11. According to the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 website, a clinical trial found that the vaccine was about 91 per cent effective at preventing the virus in this age group, with no serious side effects reported.

The same day, Premier Caroline Cochrane and Minister of Health and Social Services Julie Green released a joint statement praising the approval as an important step in fighting the virus.

SA国际影视传媒淐hoosing to get our kids vaccinated is an effective way to protect them and limit the spread of Covid-19 in schools and communities, and make the Northwest Territories safer for everyone,SA国际影视传媒� the statement reads. SA国际影视传媒淚t is one thing we can all do to help the whole territory get back to doing the things we love together.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淥ur children have had to be so resilient throughout this pandemic. Now this vaccine offers them a chance to have stability and hope.SA国际影视传媒�

As of Friday, the Northwest Territories had just over 2,000 cumulative Covid-19 cases, including 114 active cases, and 12 deaths. Eighty-one per cent of residents 12 and over are fully vaccinated and 86 per cent are at least partially vaccinated.

The NTHSSA has yet to receive the childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 version of vaccine but the NTHSSA website indicates it expects delivery before the end of November.

Once that happens, the health authority says people may then schedule vaccine appointments for their children between five and 11 years old.