Quebec OKs vaccines for children

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MRC PONTIAC – Considering the spread of new COVID-19 variants and the increase in Covid cases, the government of Quebec has suggested parents vaccinate their youngest children. The campaign for booster shots to vulnerable people is also still in place.

On July 14, Health Canada authorized the use of Moderna’s SpikeVax vaccine against COVID-19, in children under 5 years of age.

Following a favorable opinion from the Comité sur l’immunisation du Québec (CIQ) of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) announced this vaccine was available, as of Monday, July 25, to children between the ages of six months and four years old who have no contraindications. Parents can make an appointment for their child on Clic Santé.

The CIQ confirmed that the Spikevax vaccine with a reduced dosage of 25 micrograms generated a good immune response in children after two doses. For a healthy child who has already had COVID-19, one dose may be sufficient. An extended interval of eight weeks or more between the two doses is recommended.

For immunocompromised children in the same age group, the CIQ recommends three doses, using a minimum interval of four weeks between each dose. For children aged five years to 11 years, the CIQ recommends Pfizer’s Comirnaty vaccine (10 micrograms) as the preferred vaccine.

Children aged 6 months to 4 years are as likely to develop COVID-19 as adults if exposed to the virus. However, they are four to five times more likely to be hospitalized than children aged 5 to 17 who are not properly vaccinated. It should be noted that the preparation of the fall vaccination campaign against COVID-19, in order to offer a booster dose to the most vulnerable people as a priority, is continuing.

In Pontiac, the vaccination centre at the Campbell’s Bay Recreation Centre continues to operate on Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

CISSSO also recently opened a new vaccination clinic, with or without an appointment, at the Galeries Aylmer shopping Centre, 181 rue Principale in Aylmer. The operating hours for this clinic are Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pontiac has recorded 1,310 Covid-19 cases to date with an average daily increase of 3 cases. The vaccination rate in this area is 70% for double shots and 57% for the booster shot.

(MA)