The integrated health and social services centers are working hard to try to raise the vaccination rate in certain neighborhoods in Montreal that are lagging behind.
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The average in the province is 63% of children aged 5 to 11 who have received at least one dose of the vaccine against COVID-19.
In Montreal, the average drops to 52%, even though in neighborhoods like Saint-Léonard, only 27% of children have received initial protection.
“When we have 40% to 50% of children who are not vaccinated, these are reservoirs that the virus greatly appreciates in order to multiply”, explains pediatrician Pierre Paul Poulin.
To offer a great experience to the thousand children who made an appointment on Saturday, the CIUSSS called on doctor-clowns to relax the little ones.
“It makes all the difference, vaccination in a funnier, more humorous environment with our doctor-clowns, virtual reality glasses or with the dog Mira for vaccination. To have an adequate experience for the first dose and for the second,” says Caroline St-Denis, director of vaccination at the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.
A walk-in offer is also offered to parents who wish to register their youngest in the next few hours.
“Today, there is really an intensity that is increased to really facilitate this administration of the second dose and manage anxiety in our little ones. We want them to have a great vaccination experience so that it’s easy for subsequent doses,” explains the director.