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
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.