'Moving quickly toward our goal': The push is on to vaccinate kids in 5 to 11 age group

Yorkregon.com
Dec. 13, 2021

The Region of York is preparing a COVID-19 vaccine blitz to push for a healthy return to school for primary and mid-level elementary grade students following the holiday break.

“Dozens of vaccine clinics” are planned over the next 10 days, the region said in a statement released on Dec. 9 on behalf of its medical officer of health, Dr. Barry Pakes.

The goal is to ensure as many students as possible are vaccinated prior to Jan. 3, said the statement.

That marks the day students are scheduled to return to the classroom following a two-week break.

“We are moving quickly toward our goal of having half of children ages five to 11 vaccinated by Dec. 19, two weeks prior to the restart of school in the new year,” the statement reads.

York Region is planning a barrage of vaccination clinics to be conducted over the next 10 days, including a child-friendly super-clinic on Dec. 18 and 19.

Further details are expected to be released soon. In the interim, visit york.ca/covid19vaccine to book appointments.

According to York Region Public Health, more than 25 per cent of children in the five to 11 age group have received first doses of the vaccine.

“The high rate of vaccine uptake is encouraging for in-school learning to the point the region is modifying its policy for dismissing siblings of exposed students,” the region said.

Beginning on Jan. 3, any student aged five to 11 who received a first dose at least two weeks earlier will be able to attend school, even if their sibling is in a dismissed cohort, said the statement.

“With the majority of students having started their vaccine series in the new year, we look forward to safe and sustained in-person learning.”