'It's just a prick': Sask. doctor encourages parents to talk to kids about COVID-19 vaccine
While many parents are eager to book their kids for their first COVID-19 vaccine, one Saskatchewan doctor says children could be feeling more anxiety than excitement.
Wednesday marked the first day vaccine clinics were open to Saskatchewan kids ages five to 11.
Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine, an epidemiologist in Saskatoon, says roughly 60 per cent of that age group have some degree of fear towards needles. That is one of the reasons he estimates about 40 to 50 per cent of children will get their shot right away before there is resistance.
“We have to vaccinate 85 to 90 per cent of that age cohort in order to get 85 to 90 per cent of the overall population fully vaccinated,” Muhajarine said.
“That’s going to take some time. I think it will take as long as it has taken to get there for adults 12 and older.”
To help encourage high vaccine uptake, Muhajarine says parents should talk to their kids about the vaccine while explaining the inoculation process.
“It’s just a prick,” he said. “It’s like a mosquito bite, but it will soon go away. The pain will soon go away and this going to keep you healthy.”
The provincial government has 112,000 doses of the Pfizer pediatric vaccine. According to officials, the shipment is enough to give a first dose to every child who wants it.
Officials say roughly 2,000 doses were administered to kids on Wednesday, the first day of pediatric vaccine clinics.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.