Dr. Kit Young Hoon. Supplied by NWHU
With low cases of COVID-19, the region’s top doctor says we’re heading into the start of the new school year in a good position.
“Schools of course have significant health benefits for students with respect to physical activity, healthy eating and mental well being,” said Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit Dr. Kit Young Hoon. “We are working with school boards to ensure that public health measures are implemented in the school environment.”
Dr. Young Hoon goes on to say officials are working hard towards a safe return to the classroom with many of the same protocols in place like screening, masking, physical distancing and cleaning.
As many area students will be learning in person again, the Northwestern Health Unit will be providing opportunities to get vaccinated.
“We will soon be offering COVID-19 vaccination clinics in schools across the region. Clinics will begin in the early afternoon for students and will run until the evening, to ensure accessibility. The evening portion of the clinics will be available for the general public to book into or to attend as a walk in.”
Clinics will be at most secondary schools during the first two weeks of school and those 12 years and up, including some 11-year-olds or those born in 2009 or earlier are eligible.
Dr. Young Hoon says there is no age cut off for providing informed consent for a medical treatment or procedure.
“Generally students aged 12-17 are able to provide informed consent for vaccination without their parents approval. What’s important is that the student is able to understand what they are consenting to or agreeing to. So they need to be able to understand the information and understand the benefits of getting it and the potential risks.”
More on providing informed consent for the COVID-19 vaccine
Other advice ahead of the school year, Dr. Young Hoon says parents can support their students by reminding them about the importance of masking, hand washing and physical distancing.
