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
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.