CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said York Communities for Public Education approved of upcoming stricter measures for unvaccinated students and staff, compared to vaccinated ones. In fact, the organization is withholding judgement until the province's full back-to-school plan is released. The story below has been edited to correct the error.
York Region health officials are welcoming protocols on unvaccinated students, but parents await comprehensive plans to make the return to school safe.
Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore said this week that unvaccinated children and staff would face more restrictions in schools come the fall. Vaccinated individuals with a high-risk COVID-19 contact would face minimal disruption, but unvaccinated individuals will have to isolate for a minimum of 10 days and have two negative COVID-19 tests seven days apart.
York Communities for Public Education, an advocacy group of parents, teachers and staff, cannot judge the measure until a full back-to-school plan is released, according to Newmarket resident and co-chair Shameela Shakeel. But she added Moore's statement is aimed at encouraging vaccination for youth — which is something the organization supports. She said barriers have to be removed to get more youth vaccinated.
“Everyone who is still reluctant or hesitant for some reason will hopefully hear the need for it,” Shakeel said. “York Communities is in full agreement. Whoever is eligible at this point for the vaccine should be getting out and getting it.”
More health protocols are likely to come for schools. Premier Doug Ford has said the province will release a comprehensive back-to-school plan next week.
York Region is targeting the 12 to 17 age group for vaccinations as the return to school approaches. York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji said July 28 that vaccination rates for the 12 to 17 age group were at approximately 68 per cent for first doses and 47 per cent for second doses.
Kurji said local public health units are included in the consultation for those protocols. He said he supports the measure for unvaccinated individuals, and the protocols will be based on science.
“We will continue to work together with a view to ensuring we keep our children as safe as possible,” Kurji said. “It’s not really a matter of making it more inconvenient for the unvaccinated people.”
Shakeel said the group hopes governments give quality support for schools, including smaller class sizes, improved ventilation and mental health supports.
“It’s wishful thinking, but we have to keep pushing and asking for it,” Shakeel said. “Anything is possible if the government is willing to start valuing public education.
“We’re going to need more caring adults to help the kids through this,” she added.
As for youth vaccinations, Shakeel said Kurji generated some hesitancy when he suggested in June that youth wait for further guidance on second doses based on rare reports of heart conditions. However, he has since said it is safe for youth to go ahead with second doses after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization indicated as such.
“There’s a lot of reluctance and hesitancy because of what people are seeing in the media,” she said. “They need to get in at a community level, really push to have this done.”
York Region plans to host pop-up clinics at schools, starting at Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham, which begins classes in August. But Shakeel said she hopes to see clinics at other schools in the weeks to come.
“They just need to really push over the next little while.”
