COVID-19 vaccination rate relatively low among younger children in Alberta
Since COVID-19 vaccines were approved by Health Canada for use in those age five to 11 years old, 16.1 per cent of that population in Alberta have received their first jab.
As of Monday afternoon, 63,057 children have rolled up their sleeves for a first dose, a jump of 4.2 per cent since Friday. .
Health Minister Jason Copping says the province is looking at ways to specifically target that age group and get them vaccinated.
“We’ll be making an announcement in the near future about leveraging those types of tactics to continue to increase vaccination generally,” said Copping.
There are 391,430 Albertans in the five to 11-year-old age category, according to the province.
Recent national survey results have indicated that half of Canadian parents with children in that age group would be comfortable or willing to get their child vaccinated.
That's a number Copping believe will eventually become higher.
“Fifty per cent of parents indicated their interest in getting kids (aged) five to 11 vaccinated, so over the first two weeks, in terms of registration and bookings we’re getting in around the 20 per cent mark and it's likely higher at this point in time,” he said.
Calgary father Michael Quinlan says his five-year-old son Owen, rolled up his sleeve on Sunday to receive his first dose.
Quinlan encourages others to do the same.
“He was a little worried about it, but the nurses were great,” he said.
“He got his shot and he said, ‘Wait hang on,’ and then she was like, ‘It's done,’ and he’s like, 'But I didn’t feel it.' A five-year-old saying that, an adult shouldn’t be worried.”
Five-year-old Owen Quinlan got his first vaccine shot on Dec. 5, 2021. (Courtesy Michael Quinlan)
Infectious Disease researcher at the University of Calgary, Dr. Craig Jenne believes the low uptake is due to accessibility concerns.
“We have to keep in mind that these kids are in school during the day, parents work and its a little more complicated than an adult taking a half hour off a day at work to run into a clinic and get a shot and go back to the office,” he said.
Jenne suggests the province look at targeted measures such as evening clinics, or possibly clinics at school to get kids vaccinated.
He adds it may be difficult to book time slots over the holiday season as the province is vaccinating other age groups with booster shots.
Jenne feels pharmacies and private clinics need to have access to the child vaccine, so they can administer more shots in arms.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.