No images? Click here MEMO: Urgent Action Required – Child COVID-19 VaccinationsTO: Physicians and Primary Care Providers in Niagara FROM: Pandemic Response Division, Niagara Region Public Health REFERENCE: Urgent Action Required – Child COVID-19 Vaccinations DATE: Jan. 12, 2022 Since Health Canada authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine in children 5–11 years of age on November 19, 2021, more than 40% of this population have received a first dose in Niagara. Although this is a great achievement, we still have a long way to go. Children under 12 years of age have the highest rate of COVID-19 infections. While severe outcomes and hospitalization is less common than in older age groups, some children can develop severe disease, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare but serious condition; a few children do die of COVID-19. With the return to in-person learning just around the corner, we must work together to vaccinate as many children as possible. Vaccination is currently the leading public health strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Niagara Region Public Health is currently offering pediatric doses through our mass vaccination site at Niagara Falls (Scotiabank) Convention Center. Appointment times are available and can be accessed on the Provincial COVID-19 Vaccination Portal. For more information on Public Health’s clinics and a list of those eligible for walk-in appointments, please visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Schedule webpage. Promoting vaccination uptake among school-aged children in our community can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports. We know that parents have many questions about vaccinating their children. As a trusted source of health information as well as the first point of entry into the healthcare system, you play a critical role in combatting misinformation and building confidence in vaccines with parents and guardians. Urgent Action Required Physicians and primary care providers are asked to support local efforts in vaccinating this age group. COVID-19 vaccination continues to be available through Public Health mass immunization clinics, participating pharmacies or participating family doctor’s offices and walk-in clinics. However, we need to expand the volume and opportunities available in Niagara.
Administering COVID-19 Vaccine In-Office
Strategies for Reaching These Groups Consider strategies available to you to identify and contact parents and guardians of patients in this age group.
“We as primary care providers have faced all of the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. The increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, coupled with the resumption of in-class learning, places young children at a heightened risk of exposure and infection. We know that the best way to prevent this is to ensure as much vaccination uptake as possible. Please make every attempt to engage with parents, answer their questions, address their concerns, and encourage vaccination. As their most trusted healthcare provider, you are uniquely able to increase uptake of this life-saving vaccine and help us keep our children as safe as they can be.” *Dr. David Dec, Community Coordination Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccination Chair More Information
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