Montreal students eagerly get COVID-19 vaccination

“Getting vaccinated is getting a step closer to normal,” says a Laurier Macdonald High School student who received her vaccine shot right in her Montreal school. Samsara Rainville reports.

By Samsara Rainville and CityNews Staff

MONTREAL (CityNews) – Montreal schools are trying to get as many students inoculated as possible.

Students aged 12 to 17 have been able to get their vaccine in schools like Laurier MacDonald High School in the Saint-Leonard borough, with onsite vaccinations, or the students can be taken to a nearby mass vaccination clinic via shuttle buses.

The push for vaccinations is to allow for students to be able to get their second dose in time for back to school in the fall.

With the Quebec government also giving the green light to proms and graduation ceremonies, there’s even more incentive for teens to get their jabs.

“I think as teenagers, I think it’s very important that you get the protection against that so you can resume your normal activities and go back to having parties and having normal classes and camps and all that,” said Dr. Sarah Wizman, Pediatrics Infectious Disease Specialist at ELNA Pediatrics.

“Usually that’s the age you start going out, you meet new people, you’re in high school and you see hundreds of kids all day, so there’s a lot of contact with everyone, then you go back to your family, it’s pretty dangerous, your grandparents, so it’s very important we get vaccinated.”

And students CityNews spoke with agree.

“It’s a safe community and it’s good that all our school is vaccinated, it’s very safe for all of us.”

“We’re lucky enough to have it in our school you know, we have it at our fingertips, I feel extremely lucky and gifted in a sense.”

“If we all want our normal life back it’s very important to be vaccinated, and for us to be young, I think it’s very important.”

Over 21,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Quebec schools since the end of December.

Those aged 10 to 19 account for just over 12 per cent of current confirmed cases in the province, and those aged 12 to 17 representing roughly six per cent of the Quebec population.

Experts say that making the vaccine available to teens is crucial to fight the virus.

“When we do outings just to go and get vaccinated, not only it makes it fun, but it makes it normal and if it’s accepted by my friend on the right and on the left, I mean, it’s good for me,” said Dr. Wizman.

Vaccinations for students in their schools will take place until June 18. Parental consent is required for children under the age of 14.

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