Two-thirds of Toronto parents ‘certain or somewhat likely’ to get young kids vaccinated against COVID-19, survey says – Poll.com
March 18, 2020 by Dan Vergano
It’s only been a fortnight since Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams issued a media call to arms.
“The time is now for everybody to start vaccination,” he said. “This is the time for everybody, not just medical professionals. There’s no reason why we can’t vaccinate our children. There’s no reason why we can’t vaccinate children and young people across Ontario.”
Williams reminded Ontarians that all the recent evidence shows that vaccination is safe, and that it prevents serious childhood diseases. He cited a growing body of evidence for the efficacy of childhood vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella and diphtheria and pertussis.
Vaccination, he said, prevents the spread of infections in the community, and “reduces the spread of COVID-19 in families” and in hospitals.
In total, Ontario is on track to vaccinate at least 80 per cent of children against at least four of the five vaccine-preventable illnesses. The province will vaccinate 100 per cent against all five illnesses by March 31, 2020; the other 2.4 million Ontarians will be asked to get vaccinated by the end of March.
Yet less than 10 per cent of Ontario schools have vaccinated their children against polio, measles, mumps, rubella and diphtheria and pertussis, according to a CBC report.
While the number of Ontario school children who are vaccinated against COVID-19 remains unknown, in general, the province has seen a surge in the numbers of children seeking vaccines for whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella as those illnesses have become a concern for the public.
In the Toronto-area, parents have asked their children to get vaccinated against the diseases, which have returned to the spotlight in recent weeks.
As a result, the province’s Ministry of Children and Youth Services has released
