Durham Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Kyle has urged young residents to come forward and get vaccinated for the safety of all from the pandemic.
“I am pleased to share that 67 per cent of Durham Region youth 12 to 17 have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine. While vaccination rates are moving in the right direction, we would like to see more youth get vaccinated over the summer months, prior to the start of the new school year in September. In order to improve access to vaccines for youth, residents 12-17 years of age and their unimmunized family members can receive a first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at local immunization clinics offering Pfizer on a walk-in basis until July 19, without an appointment; appointments are required for second doses. As there must be a minimum of 28 days between first and second doses, unimmunized youth are encouraged to get their first dose as soon as possible to allow time to receive a second dose prior to September,” he said.
Although youth are less likely to experience serious illness from COVID-19, some younger people do get very ill, some require hospitalization and some may experience serious long-term effects. Younger people who experience mild symptoms may also spread COVID-19 to others who may get severely ill. Currently, vaccines are not approved for children younger than 12 years of age which means that a large proportion of elementary school children cannot be vaccinated at this time. To support a safe and productive school year, in which students can enjoy in-person learning and time with their friends, I encourage all eligible youth to get vaccinated to protect themselves and those around them, including younger family members who are unable to be vaccinated. Being fully vaccinated is our best protection against COVID-19.
Youth and their families may have several questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, including how it works, its side effects and safety. Some mild side effects from the vaccine are common and will resolve within a couple of days such as, soreness of the arm where you received the vaccination, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills and mild fever; serious vaccine reactions are rare. It is important that youth and families make an informed decision about getting vaccinated. There are many credible resources which can help answer questions, including: the Government of Canada Vaccines for COVID-19 web page; Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine safety web page; Public Health Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccines web page; and the Health Department’s COVID-19 Vaccines web page.
In our effort to improve access to vaccines for all residents, adults 18 and older can receive a first dose of Moderna vaccine at local immunization clinics offering Moderna on a walk-in basis until July 19, without an appointment; appointments are required for second doses. Please visit www.durham.ca/covidvaccines to get the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines in Durham Region.