Health Unit: Your COVID-19 vaccination helps protect children

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit notes although people 11 years of age and under are currently not eligible for their COVID-19 vaccine, as the province starts to open, getting your own COVID-19 vaccine is one way you can help protect them.

“When you are fully vaccinated, the chances of you catching COVID-19 are very low. If you do happen to catch COVID-19, the risk of spreading the virus is reduced,” explains Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, Public Health Physician. “When we, as individuals who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, are fully vaccinated, we are not only protecting ourselves, but we are also protecting those who are unable to get vaccinated. However, widespread protection cannot take place until more eligible people get vaccinated.”

As of Wednesday at 3 p.m., 74.6 per cent of individuals 18 and older within the local Health Unit's region have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“If you have been thinking about getting your COVID-19 vaccine, but have questions, we encourage you to call our call centre at 1-844-478-1400 or visit our website and review our COVID-19 vaccine FAQ,” says Dr. Zimbalatti.

Individuals looking to book their COVID-19 vaccine can do so online at Ontario.ca/BookVaccine or by calling the provincial booking system at 1-833-943-3900.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine visit the Health Unit’s website at myhealthunit.ca/covid-19vaccineFAQ.