Protecting children under 12 from COVID-19
At this time, there are no COVID-19 vaccines approved for children under 12 in Canada. All residents 12+ are encouraged to be fully vaccinated to afford children the best circle of protection possible.
Children can contract, transmit and become ill with COVID-19, though the risk for serious health outcomes is lower than older populations. If you are fully vaccinated, activities with children will be considered lower risk.
Dr. Jasmine Hasselback, the medical health officer in Saskatoon, answers questions about protecting children under 12.
What steps should parents or caregivers take to keep children safe?
If you are in regular contact with people who have not been immunized, including children, maintain the precautions you exercised before you were immunized – wash your hands regularly, and mask when in a crowd or when physical distancing isn’t possible. Seek testing for yourself or any individual in your care who starts showing symptoms, whether immunized or not.
Should children over two years of age continue to wear masks in public?
In situations where crowds are present, you do not know the vaccination status of others or physical distancing isn’t an option, masks will provide some protection.
Now that we’re in the middle of summer, what should caregivers keep in mind as their children participate in outdoor activities, such as playing at the playground, play dates with friends or visiting the beach?
Being outside does come with a lower risk for COVID-19 transmission than being in a more enclosed area. However, it’s not completely risk-free. Continue maintaining space from other families and groups in public spaces, washing your hands frequently, and avoiding the sharing of food and drink. And remember, when outside protect against harmful UV radiation by seeking shade, slapping on a hat, slopping on sunscreen and sliding on sunglasses!
What are the most common symptoms of COVID-19 in children?
The symptoms of COVID-19 in children can range from mild to severe, and include fever, cough, sore throat and a runny nose.
When should children be tested for COVID-19?
If children have any symptoms, or are deemed a close contact with someone with a known active COVID-19 infection, have them tested as soon as possible. Information about testing is available at 811.
Have the variants of concern been a cause of greater anxiety for the younger population?
We know the variants of concerns are more contagious, and that you really need both doses of vaccine to have good protection against the variants, which is a significant concern for children until they are eligible to be vaccinated.
The variants have definitely presented more strongly in people who were younger and healthier prior to contracting COVID-19, but extremely severe disease remains most common in those who are older and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Are there any concerns about letting children visit more vulnerable friends or relatives?
There are a number of considerations: have the vulnerable friends or relatives been immunized? Can you move the visit outdoors? Can you limit physical contact and sharing of food or drink items? We certainly don’t want to keep people apart any more than necessary, but you should still be as safe as possible.
If vaccines are not approved before September, what steps can parents take to keep their kids safe in the classroom this fall?
Encourage your children to be aware of their surroundings and continue to do all the things that have helped get us to this point. Don’t share food with classmates. Wash your hands before eating. Wear a mask in crowds if you feel more comfortable. Things can change very rapidly, but I am confident that both health professionals and the school boards around the province will be keeping a close eye on where things are at come September, and will work together to figure out the new normal in the classroom.