WATERLOO REGION — Almost one out of three children aged five to 11 in Waterloo Region have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
But appointment bookings have slowed down for these younger children only newly eligible to get immunized.
“We really pushed hard in the first two weeks to get as many doses done as we could and I think we were very successful reaching 30 per cent in two weeks,” said Vickie Murray, operations lead for the region’s vaccine distribution task force.
Fewer appointments being booked for children means they’re opened up for those eligible for a third dose this weekend for the “Every Dose Counts” event at the Pinebush vaccination clinic in Cambridge.
Booster doses had been pushed off to after this weekend, but now they’re being offered again to residents 70 and older and health-care workers.
“I will be honest that children’s vaccine appointments are slowing down in the clinics, so we have capacity in our clinics to do more,” Murray said.
While it’s a priority to give first doses, third doses are also important to protect those at greater risk.
“When we saw that there was more availability in appointments, we took that as an opportunity to outreach to the rest of the community and make sure that third doses were available too,” Murray said.
“It’s a balancing act,” she said. “You want to adjust and adapt so that we can be most effective for the whole community.”
Murray believes there are a number of factors for why children’s appointments slowed.
Those families eager to vaccinate their youngsters signed up immediately, and now others are taking a bit more time to get additional information.
More information for parents continues to be added to the region’s website, including translated versions. Staff at regional clinics are also trained to answer questions.
Likely also the time of year is keeping many families busy and hopefully appointment bookings will pick up when school is out for the winter break.
“Not to say that they’re not going to go out, but they’re just going to do it maybe at a slower pace. I think the holiday season probably contributes to that as well. People are very, very busy now,” Murray said.
A total of 970,525 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given to regional residents: 84.30 per cent of residents five and older received at least one dose, and 79.58 per cent are fully vaccinated.
More than 31,000 third doses had been given by the end of the day Thursday, and 14,425 doses to children.
This weekend is a great chance for families to get immunized.
“The team at Pinebush has pulled out all the stops to make this coming weekend a positive, fun vaccination experience. With third-dose appointments and children’s doses appointments available at Pinebush, we’d like to encourage you to make it a family affair and come together with your children or your grandchildren to get vaccinated,” Murray said.
She urges everyone to make getting immunized a priority.
“The importance of vaccines cannot be underestimated,” Murray said. “Vaccinations save lives and prevent serious illness.”
