2 ‘mini-massive’ clinics are part of Hamilton’s public health plans to vaccinate children against COVID-19 – Hamilton | The Canadian News

Hamilton Public Health is working on plans to vaccinate children ages five to 11 against COVID-19 as soon as Health Canada approves the Pfizer injection for that age group.

The city will establish two “mini-mass” vaccination clinics designed specifically for children, along with rotating mobile clinics for children and community clinics for what public health calls “harder to reach” populations.

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the city’s medical health officer, said the planning involves working with McMaster Children’s Hospital for a specialized hospital central clinic for children who have additional physical and emotional needs.

He said they hope to have more details on the various strategies to help children get vaccinated in the coming weeks.

“We are finalizing the details on that, looking at what is going to make the most sense, depending on where we are in launching the vaccine and when it is actually approved to move forward.”

Public health anticipates strong demand for the COVID-19 vaccine among the youngest age group, given its acceptance among youth ages 12 to 17.

Of that demographic, 77.8 percent are fully vaccinated, which is a higher vaccination rate than any other age group under 40 in Hamilton.

Richardson said he expects acceptance to continue in younger children, though he acknowledged that the five to 11-year-old demographic is different.

“Parents will bring their children and they will be part of that process and decision making, even more so than they were for 12-17 year olds.”

This means that public health will have to combat doubts about vaccines in those parents who will participate in the decision to vaccinate their child or not, which is why the strategy will also include a “campaign of confidence in the population-specific vaccine” to provide updated information. up-to-date information on the efficacy, benefits, and potential complications of the vaccine.

It’s unclear when Health Canada is expected to approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five to 11.

The agency has said it will only give its approval after carefully reviewing the data to make sure the benefits outweigh any potential risks.

During a news conference Tuesday, Richardson said that part of planning for the launch of the city’s vaccination for children involves considering whether or not it will coincide with the flu vaccine that will be available to the general population in November.

“One of the things that was really good to help simplify things was when the National Immunization Advisory Committee came out and said, you can give the COVID-19 vaccine along with other vaccines; the flu vaccine is one of them, but of course also other vaccines like the usual childhood vaccines when children are also eligible. “

The vast majority of the COVID-19 outbreaks in Hamilton over the past month and a half have occurred at school or in child care settings.

School-related COVID-19 activity peaked in late September, with a peak of 19 school-related cases reported in one day.

Currently, there are three active outbreaks in local schools: Huntington Park Elementary School, Providence Christian School, and Gatestone Elementary Public School.

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