WHITEHORSE — The head of the Canadian Medical Association says Yukon's COVID-19 vaccine rate for children is encouraging but more work is needed to increase the number of immunized kids.
Dr. Katharine Smart, who is also a pediatrician in the territory, says she has heard from parents who are vaccinated, yet they have concerns about the vaccine's safety and necessity for their children.
Millions of children have been immunized against COVID-19, and Smart says that highlights the vaccine's safety, and that the spread of the Omicron variant shows the need to follow vaccination guidelines.
The vaccination rate in Yukon for those between the ages of five and 11 is 57 per cent, while the rate for people from 12 to 17 with two doses is 82 per cent.
Yukon's acting chief medical officer of health Dr. Catherine Elliott says vaccines will protect both children and potentially vulnerable adult family members.
Elliott says the territory is in the middle of its Omicron wave and being immunized will help avert worst-case health outcomes.
The territory reports 209 active COVID-19 cases and 32 new confirmed cases.
Smart says the decision from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to upgrade advice to parents, going from children "may" get vaccinated to they "should" get immunized, highlights the need to protect kids.
"COVID is not going anywhere. It's going to be with us likely for a long time. Having your child vaccinated now allows you that protection and allows us to avoid some of those serious complications," Smart says.
Elliott reinforced that the territory and health officials strongly believe in the benefit of keeping in-person learning in schools during this latest phase of the pandemic.
"This is not a normal school year for anybody. However, it's the best one we can provide at this time," Elliott says, adding that officials won't be able to get the potential harm posed by the Omicron variant down to zero.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2022.
The Canadian Press
