N.W.T. eyeing less 'onerous' isolation plan for children 6 months to 4 years old, say top docs
CBC
The N.W.T. is looking at a modified isolation "that's not so onerous" for children six months to four years old, who can't get vaccinated yet, say top docs.
Dr. Kami Kandola, the N.W.T.'s chief public health officer, and Dr. AnneMarie Pegg, the territory's medical director, took questions on The Trailbreaker Thursday morning.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children aged five to 11 are expected to arrive in the territory by the end of the week, the minister of health said Tuesday evening.
Right now, children under five who travel out of territory cannot attend daycares, day homes or other places where there are unvaccinated children during the self-isolation period that follows.
"We are looking at a modified isolation that's not so onerous for that population, but we do want to protect unvaccinated children … from being exposed to COVID-19," Kandola said.
COVID-19 cases in the territory have been dropping since the latest outbreak in the Beaufort Delta region earlier this month. As of Wednesday, there are 46 cases in the N.W.T., with the majority, 36, in Tuktoyaktuk.
The number of cases dropped by more than half since last Friday, when health officials reported 104 cases across the territory.
Here are some of the top questions from this morning's call-in show.
Where will vaccines be administered for children 5 to 11 years old?
In a previous announcement, Julie Green told the N.W.T. Legislature's standing committee on accountability and oversight that a schedule to distribute and administer the vaccine to children across the territory has already been set but won't be made public until the doses arrive in the territory.
Pegg said communities are being invited to prepare the plan that works best for them. For some, she said, that may mean having it administered in schools, while others may choose to do it at health centres or both.
"Some parents feel more comfortable having their child vaccinated while they're there and not at school and some kids may feel more comfortable being vaccinated with their parents there," she said.
Yellowknife will use the same online booking system that's been used for adults and teens.
The government has scheduled a technical briefing with media Thursday afternoon to give a further update on vaccines for children.
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