As of January 1, 87.6 percent of Canadians over the age of 12 received two shots. But between the ages of 5 and 12, the number dropped to just 2 percent, with 45.6 percent receiving a dose.
“Nearly half of the children in this country have been vaccinated. … We need to get more, so please ask your parents if you can get vaccinated,” Trudeau said, addressing the children directly during a regular briefing.
Schools in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, which together account for about 61 per cent of Canada’s 38.4 million population, are practically teaching, but children will return to the classroom on January 17.
“We can do more and we will do more,” Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lakes told reporters, announcing that the province would set up special vaccine clinics in schools to increase the number of children vaccinated.
People line up for their COVID-19 vaccine booster shots at a clinic inside the Metro Toronto Convention Center as the latest Omicron alternative emerges as a threat, December 22, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. REUTERS / Cole Burston
When students show signs of COVID-19 it will quickly deliver tests for use.
Trudeau said last week that Canadians are angry and frustrated by people who have not been vaccinated, but on Wednesday he returned to his more familiar strategy of cajoling reluctant people.
Inoculations support those “who are at risk of having important surgeries and treatment canceled because our health care system is being overrun,” he said.
Trudeau, however, avoided questions about Quebec’s plan to force adults to refuse to receive Covid-19 jabs for “health contributions”, saying he needed more details.
The western province of Saskatchewan says it is expanding public health systems, such as requiring people to show vaccine passports and wear masks indoors until the end of February. Their term was due to expire on January 31.
