Three Covid-19 vaccine clinics have been scheduled to take place in Mission Secondary and Middle schools.
Fraser Health issued a letter to parents explaining it is holding the clinics “to increase vaccination coverage and keep communities and schools safe.”
The clinics are for both staff and students who have not yet received their first or second dose of vaccine. Anyone born in 2009 or earlier (12+) are eligible.
Fraser Health Public Health nurses and immunizers will be on-site on the following days:
Friday, Sept. 17 – Mission Senior Secondary
Wednesday, Sept. 22 – Hatzic Middle School
Thursday, Sept. 23 – Heritage Park Middle School
Mission’s superintendent of schools, Angus Wilson said the clinics are only for people age 12 and older and doesn’t want there it be any confusion with a different vaccine letter that was issued in the same week.
“One (letter) had to do with the regular vaccinations that occur every year, to do with Measles, Mumps and Rubella … those are the vaccines we have had forever,” said Wilson adding the Covid vaccine letters do not apply to elementary students.
During the three scheduled clinics, Fraser Health will be providing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is approved for use for people 12 and older.
The vaccination clinics are not mandatory.
Fraser Health suggests parents/guardians or representatives and their children talk about consent for immunization.
The letter goes on to state “in B.C. children under the age of 19 who are able to understand the benefits and possible reactions for each vaccine, and the risk of not getting immunized, can legally consent to or refuse immunizations. There is no legal age of consent for health care in B.C.”
This means that students may decide for themselves whether or not to receive a vaccine.
Each school will provide specific details about when children can visit a clinic and where they will be located.
Wilson said he believes the clinics will run smoothly.
“We are aware that there were a couple of protests in front of some high schools in Abbotsford. W are aware of that and will monitor it with the RCMP. People have the right to protest but they need to stay off of school property if they want to do that,” he said
Wilson also clarified that potential protesters also can’t interfere with students access to school.
If you have any questions call your local Public Health Unit or visit either:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/covid-19-vaccines or http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID-19_vaccine/Children_Vaccination.pdf.
