Quebec reports 745 new COVID-19 cases, to announce plans to vaccinate children next week

Quebec is reporting 745 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and two other deaths, bringing the death toll in the province to 11,552.

Of the new cases, 419 are among those who have not been vaccinated or have not been two weeks off the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Over the past seven days, Quebec has averaged 651 daily infections, with the number of cases rising to 6,128.

To date, Quebec has recorded 437,549 infections and 419,869 recoveries.

The number of hospital admissions decreased by 4 cases in the past day, with 201 patients. Of those, 45 are in the ICU.

Quebec’s immunization campaign continues with eligible people aged 75 and over to make an appointment for a third booster shot this week.

Next week, people 70 years of age and older will be taking reservations, as will those who have received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

To date, 88.6% of the population 12 years of age and older is considered fully vaccinated.

Quebec begins immunizations for children under 12 years old

However, Quebec will soon begin vaccinating children between the ages of 5 and 11, after Health Canada approved the children’s vaccine Friday morning.

While Health Minister Christian Dubé told reporters in Montreal the government would reveal details of its plan next week, it hoped to start as soon as possible.

“It would be a very nice Christmas present if all of our children were vaccinated before Christmas,” he said.

Dubé says that vaccinating children will allow them to return to normal.

“After five to 11, we will be able to raise the bar of the measures,” he said,

However, Dubé admits we need to learn to live with the virus.

“I think there are some measures that will be required. I think in public places, in traffic there will be some measures that will be there….” he say.

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Advice for parents hesitant about vaccines for children

Dubé hopes parents will get their children vaccinated, and points to 12- to 17-year-olds as a simulated group, citing high vaccine coverage.

He also said Quebe Cancer only needs to look at what’s happening in their backyard to see how getting vaccinated can make a difference.

According to Dubé, the province as a whole has 71.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants but that number jumps to 156.4 per 100,000 people in areas like East Town, where vaccine coverage rates are just lower. about 10%, according to Dubé.

Dubé said the government is planning to vaccinate children at provincial mass vaccination centers and at schools.

– With files from Global News ‘Olivia O’Malley and The Canadian Press