Kids COVID vaccine campaign ramps up in the capital amid concerns over new variant
Ottawa's COVID-19 vaccination campaign for children ramped up on Saturday as thousands of kids between 5 and 11-years-old rolled up their sleeves for their first shot.
All seven of Ottawa's community vaccination clinics are now offering paediatric doses this weekend.
The push to immunize as many as possible has been amplified by concerns over a new variant emerging from southern Africa.
Ottawa's clinics were running full speed Saturday; there were lineups outside some sites.
"A lot of relief that we're finally able to get the shots in the kiddos and excited about the next one," said Toufic Zayoun, after their kids received the first shot.
More than 1,400 doses were administered Friday to kids between 5 and 11 in the capital. As of Friday afternoon, Ottawa Public Health said nearly 5,000 appointments had been booked for the first weekend.
This comes though as concerns of a new COVID variant emerge. The Omicron variant, first detected in southern Africa, appears to be more transmissible.
"I think it's too early to panic," said Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, an Ottawa critical care physician.
"We haven't had any solid data to show it could evade the vaccine, it's hard to gauge how it would respond in our setting where we have extremely good vaccination rates."
For now, Dr. Kyeremanteng is pushing for continued caution and encourages immunization.
"To me the message that's loud and clear right now is we need to think about global vaccinations very seriously," he said.
The new variant of concern is already on the minds of parents too.
"Any new variant that comes up is always concerning and it's just nice to have that extra layer of protection for the kids now too," said Christie Cowan, after her two kids got their first shot Saturday.
She's hopeful increased immunization will mean a more normal heart ahead for kids in the capital.
"If this means schools stay open, especially after Christmas, this means everything to them," said Cowan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.