Region outlines vaccine plans for kids

Reports from the Toronto Star suggest that by the end of the week, children ages five to 11 will get the green light to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The region has maintained in the last few weeks that they'll be ready for when that approval comes.  But we are now learning more about what those plans look like.

Vickie Murray with the vaccine task force told a Board of Health meeting Wednesday that they anticipate about 48,000 children in Waterloo Region will become eligible, and the hope is to complete the first rush of vaccinations to that age group in a span of two to three weeks.

“Survey data of parents in Ontario suggest that 50 to 70 per cent of parents are eager to get their children vaccinated,” she said. “This translates to about 24,000 to 34,000 eager doses for us to give.”

Once that rush calms down, Murray said they will have options available to make vaccines easily accessible.

Murray said they are working with local school boards to host after-school and weekend vaccine clinics across the region to help in the effort.

As of Wednesday afternoon's dashboard update, 91.75 per cent of residents 12 and up have gotten one dose, 88.91 per cent have two doses, and Murray said 13,217 residents have received a booster shot.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hsui-Li Wang said most cases continue to be among those who are unvaccinated.

She said it's estimated that vaccinations have prevented 8,284 cases, 157 deaths and 895 severe cases since the rollout first began last December.

Dr. Wang said case rates have risen in the first two weeks of November, as well as other areas of the province.

She said this comes as more people are having social contact with one another, spending more time indoors and not taking precautions.

She is encouraging residents to act as if anyone can come in contact with the virus from anywhere, and to practice public health precautions to protect yourself and others.