Not if, but when you catch COVID-19: Guelph’s best doc warns the unvaccinated

GUELPH – The best public health doctor in the Guelph area has a stern warning for those not yet vaccinated: “It’s not about whether you’re going to catch the COVID virus, but when are you going to get it. to grab. “

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Medical Officer of Health Dr Nicola Mercer is urging anyone who qualifies to get vaccinated before the fourth wave of COVID-19 fully hits this fall.

“As we head into the fall if you’re not vaccinated, I would really tell you it’s not if you’re going to get the COVID virus, but when are you going to get it,” Dr. Mercer on unvaccinated people.

But as the school year approaches, some families in the Waterloo region are anxious to know when children under 12 can get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Earlier this week, the Middlesex-London Health Unit announced it would start immunizing children who are 11 but turn 12 this year – then overturned this policy in less than 24 hours.

Elaine Fischer had entered her daughter Amelia, who is 11 but will be 12 this year, to get the jab in London.

“It went from excitement to disappointment pretty quickly,” she said. “I would have been happy to sign a document so that she could get the vaccine, at least have a dose before she went back to school.”

Amelia will be attending school in person in September.

“Obviously I’m a little nervous and worried, but his sanity is forcing him to go back to school in person,” Elaine said. “That’s what she wants.”

Waterloo and Guelph region medical officers of health say there are specific rules to determine who is eligible, but add that vaccines may soon be available for young children.

“The Pfizer vaccine was approved for 12-year-olds, not for those born in 2009,” said Waterloo Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang. “These decisions about who is available for the vaccine and when are determined by the province.”

“At some point this fall, we should have the vaccine available for people aged 5 to 11, which could be another group of people we could vaccinate,” said Dr. Mercer. “It will be a virus that is going to be with us for a very long time.”

Vaccine deployment strategies in the region are now focused on mobile and pop-up clinics as well as places like shopping malls.

“Masking, distancing and immunizing is the only way to protect these children,” said Bruce Lauckner, Chief Administrative Officer of the Region of Waterloo.