COVID vaccine at school worries some local parents

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Some Windsor-Essex parents are concerned about the local health unit’s decision to administer COVID-19 vaccines to youth in schools without parental consent.

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The health unit offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to youth ages 12 and older at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, which has an active COVID-19 outbreak involving at least 10 confirmed cases, as well as at Kingsville Public School. , which has a student case.

The province’s Health Care Consent Law states that there is no minimum age for giving informed consent for vaccination, and a child does not need outside permission to receive one.

I had to sign a consent form so that my son could go to the park. On the same day, I discovered that I do not have to give my consent for my son to be injected with a pharmaceutical product.

Knowing that parental consent would not be required for a child to be hit at school, numerous local parents took to social media to share their concerns.

“Most of them (parents) did not know this issue of consent. They didn’t know their son could override their decision, ”one mother, Melinda, told the Star after posting a Facebook post about COVID vaccination at school.

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Melinda did not want to share her last name in an effort to protect the identity of her four children, three of whom are eligible for vaccination. He said that he is not against COVID-19 vaccines and that he told his three oldest children that it is his choice whether or not to receive a vaccine. She herself said that she had COVID-19 about 11 months ago, but has anaphylactic allergies and believes that the vaccine is not her “best medical option.”

Her youngest son, who is not yet eligible for any COVID-19 vaccine, suffered a severe reaction to a routine vaccine as a baby, she said. His medical history has made the idea of ​​COVID vaccination at school without parental consent “particularly interesting.”

“They don’t record parental consent. They don’t even record the children’s written consent; verbal consent is fine, ”he said. “And your son can override his decision. That to me is something that I think the whole community should know, ”said Melinda.

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A health unit notice shared by the Essex County District School Board regarding the Kingsville Public Schools vaccination clinic indicates that the health unit would not collect or require paper consent forms.

In response to questions about COVID-19 vaccination at school, the executive director of the health unit, Nicole Dupuis, said on Friday that young people “have had the opportunity to be vaccinated in school clinics.”

“Vaccinating young people will prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in schools and will likely help keep schools open.”

The vaccines are provided by informed consent, Dupuis said. Before administering the vaccine, immunization staff will provide education and answer questions about the benefits and risks of vaccination.

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Anyone 12 years of age or older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine once they provide informed consent “as long as they have the ability to make this decision,” he said. “This means that they understand what vaccination entails, why it is recommended, and the risks and benefits of accepting or refusing to be vaccinated.”

The health unit “understands and respects the right of young people to consent to receive medical care” and recommends that young people between the ages of 12 and 17 discuss the decision with a parent, guardian or adult they trust. Youth who are unable to consent require “the consent of a surrogate decision-maker, such as a parent or legal guardian.”

The health unit is working with local school boards to identify and plan opportunities to support youth vaccination.

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Melinda and others on social media expressed concern that a public health nurse could convince a child with a medical condition or allergy to receive a vaccination at school. Some wrote that their children had been given permission to leave school if they felt pressured to get vaccinated.

Although no school vaccination dates have been scheduled at her children’s school, Melinda said they will not attend school on days with school vaccination clinics.

“I had to sign a consent form so that my son could go to the park. On the same day, I discovered that I do not have to give my consent for my son to be injected with a pharmaceutical product. It’s weird for me “.

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