Pediatric Moderna vaccine rolling out across the north
Public health units in the northeast held their first clinics for Moderna's pediatric Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine, aiming to protect young children between six months and five years of age from the virus.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) and the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) are among those seeing high demand for the first clinics offering the new shot on Thursday, with many dates already filling up.
The Timmins-area health unit's chief nursing officer, Chantal Riopel, said now that pretty much all age groups are eligible for the shot, families are all the more protected.
"Not all children experience mild symptoms when it comes to COVID, and so the vaccine will provide them with added protection," said Riopel.
"It also will protect the family members that they live with or they interact with, so protecting (children) also protects those around them."
The PHU is dealing with three COVID-19 outbreaks at two long-term care homes in Timmins and Iroquois Falls and an undisclosed congregate living setting.
Riopel said COVID-related hospitalizations are stable, with the Timmins and District Hospital treating four patients as of July 27.
PHSD is experiencing a more serious situation, having upgraded to a high-risk infection category amid a two-week case surge in high-risk settings.
"The risk of transmission has increased in our area," said Nastassia McNair, the Sudbury-area health unit's research manager.
"Two indicators where we saw increases are seven to eight per cent positivity (rates) and (patients) in-hospital due to COVID-19 per day. So we're seeing increases in both of those."
The hope is that getting young children vaccinated will help curb the spike and ensure they don't have severe symptoms, McNair said, which is why it was encouraging to see PHSD's first clinics fully booked.
The pediatric vaccine is currently available by appointment only, which health officials said is to ensure parents have dedicated slots to get the new shot, as well as to ask questions about its benefits and potential side-effects
McNair said the overall results of the pediatric shot, when it comes to limiting the virus' spread and decreasing hospitalizations, will be monitored as the shot continues rolling out around the region.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.