Vaccinating children is getting creative.
Earlier this week, KidsAbility partnered with the Region of Waterloo to host vaccination clinics for children between ages five to 17.
Beginning this weekend, vaccination clinics at KidsAbility locations in Waterloo and Cambridge will have support dogs to comfort children.
“This clinic will provide parents and children with a sensory safe experience and additional support during immunization,” said clinic manager Lisa Anstey.
The region partnered with St. John Ambulance Kitchener-Waterloo Branch to bring therapy dogs starting on Saturday at the Boardwalk clinic.
“This wonderful group of volunteer dog and handler teams will be visiting the clinics to provide comfort and emotional support to children during the vaccination process,” said Anstey.
The Region of Waterloo also partnered with local school boards to offer full-day and after-school vaccination clinics.
“Our first school based clinic was held last night at St. Peter's Catholic Elementary School. It was a great success supporting children and their parents to get the vaccine in a comfortable local location.”
Anstey said many more school based clinics are planned over the next month.
“Our vaccine rollout strategy is to continue to develop partnerships such as the ones that have just mentioned with the school board's kids ability and St Johns ambulance so that we can eliminate barriers and prioritize those who are disproportionately impacted by COVID,” said Anstey.
“With the recent increases of COVID cases and the emergence of the new Omicron variant, the importance of vaccines as a significant strategy to fight the cat COVID-19 virus continues to grow,” said Anstey.
