Concern over Alberta lifting public health restrictions
Parents of kids too young to be vaccinated are expressing concern as the province prepares to lift restrictions on July 1.
“I have huge concerns with that,” said Wendy Pirk, a parent with an 11-year-old son. “I don’t want him to be in crowds, I don’t want him to be indoors yet until he’s vaccinated.”
Because of her concern for her son’s health, Pirk said they have been avoiding restaurants, spending time at home or outside where there aren’t large groups of people.
“We try to keep our distance from everyone else at the park,” said Pirk.
“I don’t make him wear, usually, a mask outside because it’s just not fun for them, but if the park gets too busy we go somewhere else where it’s not quite so busy or we go to the valley or just spend our time outside.”
With no vaccines approved in Canada for children under 12, one doctor said it’s up to parents to protect their children.
“Ensure that the adults around them are doubly vaccinated so fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Amy Tan, an associate clinical professor at the University of B.C. “So grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents all need to be vaccinated in order to maximally protect them.”
Tan said that children are safe to play together, but it should be done outside.
“If you wear a mask and distance and keep it outdoors the risk is quite minimal,” Tan added.
The majority of kids who get COVID-19 will experience a mild illness, but with new variants emerging, it’s hard to say what effects the virus will have on children.
“The other thing is we don’t know yet to what extent long COVID actually will affect children with mild disease,” said Tan. “We’re seeing more and more data that adults with mild disease can still get long-term consequences, organ consequences, with long COVID.
“So I think the uncertainty is still there, that we need to be cautious.”
She also added that in rare cases, even without the variants, some children were getting an inflammatory condition.
“There’s just so much we don’t know about how this virus actually affects the human body,” said Tan.
She stressed the importance to remain vigilant, but with testing underway, Tan added that approval for vaccines on children under 12 could come as soon as August or September.
“We have every reason to be optimistic that this will be approved we just have to wait for it, especially with children and developing bodies to make sure we’re very, very cautious of ensuring it’s safe,” said Tan.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Security Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
BREAKING 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.
BREAKING Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
Ontario Provincial Police say they have 'disrupted' an organized crime group that allegedly used an emergency grandparent scam to defraud seniors across Canada out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.