New vaccination clinic in London Ont. for anxious young people with different needs – London

A new COVID-19 vaccination clinic at London Children’s Hospital aims to target youth and youth with different needs and abilities.

The clinic, which opened earlier this month, operates Tuesday evenings by appointment only and offers vaccines to all youth ages 12 to 17.

Health officials say the clinic’s aim is to provide additional support for young people who struggle with anxiety, who are afraid of needles, who have behavioral or sensory needs.

“It’s natural for young people and adults to worry about needles. Some may also find the mass vaccination clinics overwhelming due to the busy environment, ”says Julie Manning, Director, COVID-19 Vaccination Center, LHSC.

The clinic is a joint effort of the Children’s Hospital of the London Health Sciences Center (LHSC) and the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU)

Clinic staff work with youth and families to meet their unique needs and allow each patient more time to be vaccinated and also have a low-stimulating, private environment for those with sensory needs, according to health officials.

Young people and families can request an advance phone call with the immunization team for help in developing a plan and getting their questions answered.

“Having a plan ahead of time can help kids feel more in control and make the experience as positive as possible,” notes Manning.

All young people who turn 12 in 2021 and older young people can make an appointment for the first dose.

To make an appointment for the first or second dose for the Children’s Hospital COVID-19 vaccination clinic, people can go to the site of the health units and select the Children’s Hospital clinic or by calling 226-289-3560 (8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday to Sunday.

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