What we know about kids and COVID-19 vaccines – CBC

If parents feel heard and understood, they’re in a much better position to make decisions, say pediatricians

Oct 15, 2021

It’s normal for parents of school-aged kids to have questions about the prospect of COVID-19 vaccines becoming available to protect younger Canadians, according to pediatricians who say showing compassion with vaccine hesitancy could go a long way.

Health Canada said it expects to receive Pfizer-BioNtech’s formal filing for authorization of its vaccine for children aged five to 11 this week.

Daniel Flanders, a pediatrician in Toronto, is already fielding calls from parents who want their children to be first in line for the immunizations, as well as parents who are more cautious.

“There’s a spirit nowadays in the media and in doctors’ offices where, you know, parents feel like if they even for a moment feel skeptical they’re going to be shunned,” Flanders told Dr. Brian Goldman on The Dose podcast. “I agree we need to push to get everyone vaccinated, but I think we need to be a little bit more compassionate and understanding.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/dose-covid19-vaccines-children-1.6211257