Top doctor weighs in on unvaccinated students returning to classrooms in September
With the return to the classroom coming closer, Manitoba's top doctor says if students are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, those around them should roll up their sleeves and get the shot.
Few details have been released in Manitoba about what the return to the classroom will look like. The provincial government said in June that it plans to have all Kindergarten to Grade 12 students return to in-class learning full-time on Sept. 7.
Students who are eligible to receive a vaccine – those 12 and up – have to get it by Tuesday, July 27, to be considered fully vaccinated in time for school.
For the younger students who are not eligible, Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said the best way to protect them is to have those around them vaccinated.
"We know that younger children are much less likely to have severe outcomes, they are also less likely to be high transmitters of the virus," he said.
"What we need is people at home to be fully vaccinated, so if the virus is brought home, it is brought home to a family that is fully vaccinated with everyone eligible there. Within the school, if we have staff and eligible students vaccinated, we are going to see much less transmission occurring in those areas."
Roussin said the province is still looking at different back-to-school scenarios and working with partners on the national level for guidance on getting students back into the classrooms.
"We know that getting the kids back to school in as much a normal fashion is quite important," he said.
He said more details about the return to school will be released in the coming weeks.
The current eligibility rules have some parents and guardians concerned about the fall school year for those who cannot get vaccinated.
Six-year-old Lucas was born with only one kidney and lives with some underlying health conditions.
Heading into Grade 2 in just over a month, Lucas's grandmother Jackie Jeffery worries about a potential fourth pandemic wave putting her grandson at risk.
“Our biggest concern with him going back to school is that he can’t get the vaccine obviously because of his age,” said Jeffery.
The Delta variant of concern (B.1.617.2) now makes up 30 per cent of Manitoba’s COVID-19 cases and could become the dominant strain.
COVID-19 case numbers and test positivity rates are dropping. Parents and students want to know if masks, cohorts and physical distancing will still be required for the start of the school year.
“I hope that if we’re still kind of in a zone where there could be a fourth wave that they would still do precautions,” said Heather Hallatt.
“I definitely don’t want them making decisions just based on fear or emotion or anything like that, so data-driven stuff is really where I would like to see things go,” said Terrin Ramsey.
Roussin confirmed the province won’t be mandating vaccines in schools.
Jeffery, who works in a school, said she would like so see the same precautions in place this fall and she wonders why some eligible people won’t get the shot to protect those that can’t.
“It baffles the mind, but what can you do? You know it’s their right, they have every right. But then we also have every right to feel safe,” said Jeffery.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.