As COVID-19 cases climb in local kids MLHU wants to vaccinate 5-11 year olds
The province has been alerted to a significant rise in COVID-19 cases detected among children in London and Middlesex County.
An analysis by the Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) determined that 42 cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed among individuals aged five to 17 during the second week of September.
There was only one case detected in that age group during the same week last year.
“The Delta variant is really a game-changer with regard to children and youth. It is showing up way more heavily in that population,” explains Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie.
The pediatric incidence rate has reached 43 cases per 100,000 for kids five to 11 years old, 42 per 100,000 aged 12-17.
Mackie says the rise began in August, and is not related to transmission in schools.
The weekly COVID-19 incidence rate by episode date in those ages 0-11 and 12-17 are seen in this graph provided by the Middlesex-London Health Unit.
With the cause still undetermined, the MLHU notified the province, “We alerted the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario about what we are seeing locally. We have asked that COVID-19 vaccines be included in the Immunization of School Pupils Act.”
Kids who were not fully vaccinated accounted for 92 of the 102 pediatric cases reported so far in September.
Mackie says adding COVID-19 vaccination to the Immunization of School Pupils Act would encourage more parents to get their eligible children vaccinated.
Currently, that’s youth aged 12 and over in 2021 -- but Mackie is now asking that the eligible age be lowered.
“We’ve reached out to the federal government to ask that they expedite the approval of the vaccine in the five to eleven year old group,” he adds.
Meanwhile, demand for testing has significantly exceeded expectation since the return to school, requiring more staff at the Carling Heights Optimists Centre COVID-19 Assessment Centre.
“There is unfortunately a crunch right now in health human resources, so we may be reaching out to other partners to help out there,” Mackie explains.
Despite pediatric case counts higher than expected, Mackie believes the limited transmission occurring in schools is preventing the need to return to remote learning.
“Do we get there in a few months? It’s hard to say, but I don’t think it is something we should jump to quickly because of the COVID risk of being home.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.