Retired Sudbury doctor says vaccines should be mandatory for students returning to school
With most students returning to in-class learning in a couple of weeks, a retired doctor in Sudbury says the COVID-19 vaccine should be required for those who are eligible.
Retired doctor Peter Zalan said the vaccine should be mandatory, just like other shots students need to be allowed inside schools.
“Right now in Ontario, if you don’t have a measles shot, you don’t have shots for mumps, for diphtheria and for a number of other infectious diseases, you cannot attend school," said Zalan. "So, what’s different about COVID?”
"I mean, COVID is a threat to the community, our economy is a mess, right, people have been staying in their homes and yet we don’t apply the same principles as we did to measles.”
Public Health Sudbury & Districts said so far in Sudbury, 67.5 per cent of people aged 12 through 17 have received their first dose and 56.8 per cent have received their second dose.
“The vaccine is strongly recommended for anyone 12-plus, and it’s actually individuals who are turning 12 in this calendar year, so born in 2009,” said Nastassia McNair, of the vaccine-preventable diseases and COVID prevention division with Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
"Some 11-year-olds are eligible. Heading back to school, two doses provide extra protection against severe illness and against hospitalization, so we really strongly recommend it.”
McNair said there are many opportunities in the city to get vaccinated, including the young people returning to school.
“Every Tuesday in Greater Sudbury at our Carmichael Arena, in some of our outlying areas, we have consistent appointment opportunities in our offices so that you can book either by going online or calling the call centre to book an appointment,” said McNair.
“We also have now our mobile bus and our pop up opportunities so every day, our vaccine buses are in a new location and everything is advertised on our website.”
The health unit said 75.9 per cent of people 12 and older locally have received their second dose.
Zalan said that percentage will hopefully increase, especially with school just around the corner.
“Every day it’s a little higher, so I would consider that worrisome," he said. "Same with Ontario -- it was up to 600-something yesterday … and so it’s only going in one direction and this is before the school system opens.”
Health officials said they continue to encourage everyone to get their second shot.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion, 1 person seriously injured: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'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.
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.
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.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
How to overcome 'savings guilt' when you're living paycheque to paycheque
As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.
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.