As Omicron spreads, kids 5-11 vaccination slows. That must change, experts say
Global News
As of Jan. 1, 45 per cent of kids ages five to 11 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As Omicron spreads, experts say that rate must go up.
Mirelle Durham’s children have gotten their COVID-19 vaccine.
With back-to-school nearing in Ontario, getting her children, aged nine and six years old, vaccinated was the best way to protect them, she said.
“This is the only option that we have,” Durham told Global News recently.
“It’s some protection, and I think if they were to get sick and end up in the hospital, I think that would be a lot worse.”
Durham’s children are now among the 45 per cent of kids aged five to 11 who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but that number isn’t growing fast enough as Omicron spreads through Canada, experts say.
“We’ve been struggling with our communication to parents in this age group … COVID generally in children causes flu-like or cold-like symptoms, and most children do well. But some children do have severe disease and do have bad outcomes from COVID,” said Dr. Katharine Smart, president of the Canadian Medical Association.
“Our messaging trying to convey both those things at the same time has led some parents to wonder, ‘Is it really necessary if I vaccinate?’ And I think that’s been confusing.”
Canada started rolling out vaccines for children aged five to 11 at the end of November, shortly after Health Canada approved Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine for that age group.
