'Protect them': Saskatoon pediatrician encourages families to vaccinate kids against COVID-19
Saskatoon pediatrician Dr. Ayisha Kurji is encouraging families to get their children vaccinated, saying after an initial spike when the shots became available, the rate of pediatric vaccines in the province has plateaued.
“That initial rush was the families that were really excited, really gung-ho, waiting until the day that they could get it,” said Kurji.
According to the Government of Saskatchewan, as of Friday, 57,393 first doses have been administered to children aged 5-11 and 23,886 are fully vaccinated.
Kurji says there are a number of factors that could be keeping more children from receiving the vaccine; barriers like transportation to sites or difficulty booking appointments, to some children needing different environments to feel comfortable getting the jab.
“Regina has done a great job with low-sensory clinics, and we have our first low-sensory clinic in Saskatoon,” she said, referring to the clinic at the Kinsmen Children’s Centre.
“Some kids haven't been able to go for their first or second dose because they're stuck isolating because they've been exposed and you can't leave your house other than school or daycare so they can't go right now.”
The other reason, Kurji says, is families that still have questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, and concerns about potential side effects.
“There have been millions and millions of kids now who've been vaccinated between Canada and the US, and very, very few significant adverse events,” she said, adding that side effects have shown to be a sore arm and redness at the site of the vaccination.
“With the science behind these vaccines, we know that they're actually broken down in your system within days, maybe weeks, so there would be no reason scientifically for us to think that there would be long-term effects.”
Kurji says she’s also heard concerns about myocarditis, or inflammation around the heart, that have occurred after some vaccinations and cases of the virus.
“You're much more likely to actually get myocarditis if you get infected with COVID compared to getting it from the vaccine,” she said.
“And the other piece of it is the degree or the severity of the myocarditis is much higher if you get it from the infection of COVID rather than the vaccine.”
Kurji says the rates of myocarditis in the 5-11 age group is ‘almost nothing’, and the children that end up in the hospital because of COVID-19 are more likely to be unvaccinated.
“Protect them, or at least to protect our community,” she said. “We know the way through this pandemic is really to get the infection rate lower.”
“The best tool in our toolbox is vaccines.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
'$6.66 per day': Advocacy groups disheartened by funding in budget for disability benefit
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
MPs summon ArriveCan contractor to the House to be admonished in rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.