MLHU gives preview of COVID-19 vaccination plan for kids
The COVID-19 vaccination campaign for kids ages five to 11 could get started as early as December and will resemble the early vaccine campaign for adults, local officials say.
During Thursday's virtual media briefing, Middlesex-London Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie provided some details of what area residents could expect.
Officials estimate roughly 35,000 children in that age group will become eligible once the Pfizer's pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is approved by Health Canada.
While the campaign could start as soon as the beginning of December, Mackie said that date could fluctuate from a couple of weeks up to a month.
For those who have already been vaccinated, the process is expected to be much the same, Mackie said.
"The plan is fairly similar to the first few waves, so we will have large mass vaccination clinics open at the Agriplex and Mount Brydges out in the Strathroy-Caradoc area. We will have pharmacy partners, lining up to make sure that they can offer vaccine as well."
The mass vaccination clinics, which are currently accepting all walk-ins, will move back to an appointment-based system to manage volume, Mackie explained.
"It won't be possible to have everybody show up on day one, as soon as everyone I'm sure would want. So we'll have to spread those out, so people will use the covidvaccinelm.ca website to book their appointments."
It's expected to take two to three weeks to get all the newly eligible kids their first dose, and the same for second doses a month later.
After the initial rollout, Mackie says there will be "catch up campaigns out of the mobile clinics, school clinics and that sort of thing, to make sure that for those for whom access is an issue, we can reduce barriers as much as possible."
Primary care providers like family doctors are not expected to play as active a role in this rollout.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.