First doses for 5-11 year olds begin in London area
The highly anticipated and long awaited first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for children began in earnest Friday at the Western Fair Agriplex. The only thing spoiling the mood was the weather
“It's very cold outside. And I'm cold” said one child waiting with his dad to go inside.
There was a line up prior to the doors opening at 11 a.m., but the excitement for kids and parents was evident
“I’m a teacher myself…I know that the kids in my class were certainly excited to tell me about the dates that they're coming in for their vaccines,” said Luis Caicco, who was bringing his two children to the vaccination site, with mixed feelings while waiting for their turn. “They say it hurts but I say it doesn’t” said the boy, “I’m a little nervous” added the girl.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit says bookings have been positive with over 8,000 children slotted to roll up their sleeves over the next couple of weeks.
“That’s over the next four weeks but the vast majority will be within the next week and two weeks” said Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Alex Summers
Many parents have jumped at the chance to book early, as the province’s positivity rate has been growing week by week.
“Really, we know that the new cases are going through the children who are under 12 and unvaccinated. So we need to get our kids vaccinated and that'll hopefully open things up,” said Chris Alcantara, whose son was among the first to arrive.
The majority of appointments over the coming weeks are being reserved for children who are eligible, at both The Agriplex and the Strathroy Community Centre
“We’re scaling up to see about 1,500 a day at the Agriplex, with 70 per cent of those as a minimum for kids,” said Summers.
The hope is, even with one dose, it will help ease the numbers going into the Holiday season, and perhaps in the New Year give kids more ability to return to more normal activities.
“Like having playdates with my friends,” said another boy excitedly waiting.
The Vaccine clinic will be running seven days a week from 11 a.n. to 6 p.m., and you can book your child’s spot using the portal found on the Health Unit's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'