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COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children as young as six months old. And while some parents have been eager to get their children vaccinated, others have questions. We spoke to Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada?s Chief Public Health Officer and a pediatric infectious disease specialist, to ask her our most pressing questions about the vaccines.
Why should my child get the COVID-19 vaccine"
As the temperature drops, we are more likely to gather indoors, resulting in the increased spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This has led to more children getting sick this fall, more overcrowded emergency rooms in many parts of the country, and regrettably, more hospital admissions for young children. Parents want to do what they can to protect their children and avoid stressful trips to the emergency room. Getting your child vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as influenza, is an important step to help reduce your child?s risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
Since Omicron became the dominant variant of COVID-19, and is more transmissible, the number of children hospitalized and admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 has increased. This includes previously healthy children. Young children under five are also at a higher risk of serious complications from the flu because of their age, since their immune system is still building immunity to fight off serious infections. Vaccines work by training the im...