Haldimand-Norfolk Acting Medical Officer Of Health Dr. Matt Strauss acknowledges the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines in youth, but feels a decision to get a child vaccinated is a family decision.
During a recent media call, he emphasised the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations who says a child “may” get vaccinated and not the term “should” be vaccinated, like it did for prior COVID shots.
Dr. Strauss said there are a lot of things for parents and kids to consider.
With that, he said aside from potential additional safety from getting or spreading COVID-19 in youth, there is a practical standpoint to look at as well for certain families.
Since this meeting, Dr. Strauss has gone to Twitter to clarify his point a bit more.
Online, he has said that he is happy and excited that a safe and effective vaccine against Covid-19 is now available for children in Canada and that he knows that most parents have decided to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible – which he described as terrific.
He also added that getting local kids vaccinated could make a humongous difference in local transmission dynamics.
He also references Dr. Theresa Tam who asked everyone to respects parents choices when it comes to vaccinating their children and the pace of decision making.