Wide gap between most and least vaccinated Ontario schools could threaten reopening plans, experts say
Vaccination rates among teenagers in some regions of Ontario aren't keeping pace with the provincial average, provincial figures say — a development that could undermine the province’s new back-to-school plan.
And one thing that could give the plan a shot in the arm would be putting vaccination clinics directly in schools, and giving young people the opportunity to consent to the vaccines for themselves, said Dr. Colin Furness, an epidemiologist at the University of Toronto.
“No question that in affluent areas vaccination rates will be higher. And there are certain higher risk areas as well. We’ve seen it,” Furness told CTV News Toronto, adding that those risks will be more acute in schools with less ventilation.
“One thing I’d like to see is vaccination clinics at school. Kids can consent for themselves when they have good old fashioned education about what a vaccine is and what it does and that would be enormously helpful,” he said.
Furness was responding to the Ontario government’s back-to-school plan, that was released Monday.
It promised that life students knew before COVID-19 can largely return, saying students can attend assembly, use the libraries, and gather in the cafeteria. Extracurricular activities, sports and clubs will be back.
All of this will happen with limited restrictions, requirements to physically distance, and mandatory masks from grades one through 12.
“Our goal is to have a safe reopening of our schools that lasts the entire academic year,” said Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore.
But there’s little in the plan that talks about what could go wrong: no rules for unvaccinated students, nothing about how to manage outbreaks, and no picture of how widespread isolation would have to be given an exposure at school.
"I'm looking forward to my kids to have an in-person classroom," said Solomon Hagos as he picked his daughter Eliana up from daycare. "I'm a little bit worried but I am optimistic, even though the vaccination rates are a bit low."
Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peel Region’s medical officer of health, said that vaccination rates are much higher than when he closed schools in his region earlier this year, and that will contribute to a safer return to school.
“The vaccine is so important as a foundation to ensure the rest of these measures are able to enhance and ensure in-person learning continues through this school year,” Dr. Loh said.
But how much students are vaccinated varies widely, from as low as 25 per cent of children aged 12-15 in Aymler, Ont. to a high of 100 per cent in downtown Ottawa, figures from ICES show.
Toronto has a nearly 40 per cent gulf between its highest-vaccinated area — Lawrence Park, at 86 per cent — and its lowest — Lawrence Heights, at 47 per cent, the ICES figures show. The ICES figures are current to July 25.
Public health officials say the pandemic is now almost overwhelmingly affecting the unvaccinated, with the Delta variant sweeping through parts of the United States and Europe.
Children under 12 aren’t eligible for the vaccine, and they will be grouped together under this plan.
“It’s a plan that attempts to put things back the way they were before COVID-19 but I don’t think we’re ready for that,” said Karen Littlewood, the president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.
Some experts were more optimistic, saying that vaccinating parents and teachers can help protect the unvaccinated children, lowering the likelihood a coming fourth wave will swamp the schools.
“Those who are unvaccinated certainly are protected when everyone around them is vaccinated. That means the teachers, but far more important are the parents and family,” said Dr. Barry Pakes.
“So if you want your kid to be back in school full time, the best way to protect them from being sent home from school or from getting COVID is to you yourself as a family to be vaccinated,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
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.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
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.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.