Local 5–11 age group below provincial COVID-19 vaccination rate - BayToday.ca

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit continues to encourage parents to have their children in the 5–11 age group vaccinated against COVID-19, saying the vaccines have been proven highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalizations, and death.

As of Wednesday, 4,365 local individuals aged five to 11 years have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This represents 51 per cent of the five to 11-year-olds in our Health Unit district, slightly behind the provincial rate of 53.8 per cent.

The Health Unit stresses the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and the best way to protect your child and family from COVID-19.

"Vaccinations help to keep schools open, provide more protection to children participating in organized activities, and help slow the spread of the virus. The COVID-19 vaccines, including the pediatric Pfizer vaccine, have undergone a review and been approved by Health Canada, one of the most rigorous scientific review systems in the world and meet the highest manufacturing and quality standards."

“As a physician and parent of two teenagers, I supported my children in their decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and would've done the same if they were between five and 11 years old and eligible for the pediatric vaccine instead,” explains Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, Public Health Physician at the Health Unit.

Although many children and youth who are infected with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, some can get very sick resulting in hospitalizations, ICU admissions and even death, the Health Unit advises. 

"Some children and youth who are infected with COVID-19 will experience long COVID, meaning having symptoms weeks or months after the infection has passed. Children with certain underlying chronic medical conditions are known to be at increased risk for becoming severely ill with COVID-19. The pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect your child from experiencing severe and long-term illness."

To speak to someone or learn more, visit Ontario.ca/CovidVaccineKids or call the provincial vaccine contact centre at 1-833-943-3900 to speak to an experienced agent or health specialist. Individuals may also book a confidential phone appointment with a SickKids pediatric Registered Nurse through SickKids.ca/VaccineConsult, or call 1-888-304-6558. This service is available in multiple languages using over-the-phone language interpretation. Additional resources can be found on our website at myhealthunit.ca

The Health Unit recommends children wait eight weeks between their first and second dose. Parents and guardians who are ready to book their child’s appointment can do so online at Ontario.ca/BookVaccine, or by calling the Health Unit Call Centre at 1-844-478-1400. Walk-ins are accepted at all Health Unit-led clinics.

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Local 5–11 age group below provincial COVID-19 vaccination rate - BayToday.ca
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