Is my kid safe from COVID-19 if they have already had it

As of early December 2022, more than 400,000 children in Canada aged 11 and younger had gotten COVID-19. That’s 10 per cent of the total confirmed cases across the country.

If your child was one of them, it’s true that their body developed some immunity. However, that protection decreases over time and depends on the child’s past vaccination or infection history and variants of the virus circulating. COVID-19 vaccines provide longer-lasting protection against severe illness than immunity from infection alone.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization, known as NACI, recommends children aged five and older receive an initial COVID-19 vaccine series, and some should also receive a booster dose. Kids six months to four years of age may also receive an initial series.

Vaccinations offer stronger protection than infection, and they may help prevent serious complications that can lead to hospitalization.