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Dr. Bonnie Henry urges B.C. child-care workers to get vaccinated

School staff have very high rates of immunization, but the same isn't true for child-care workers, Henry said at her May 10 briefing
Child Care COVID
Child-care workers in B.C. are slower to take up their COVID-19 vaccines than school staff, according to Dr. Bonnie Henry. Henry is urging the province's child-care workers to get vaccinated.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued an appeal to B.C. child-care workers to get vaccinated.

Henry, speaking at her May 10 media briefing, said immunization rates have been “very high” in school staff but less so in the child-care sector.

“I would really encourage people who work in the child-care centres around this province, who’ve been doing so much good work caring for children, especially for children of essential workers and others around the province, now’s your time. You have access to vaccine across the province; please, go and get vaccinated,” she said.

Henry said there have been some “small outbreaks and transmissions” in child-care centres, which is one of the reasons child-care workers have been prioritized.

Child-care workers and school staff are among a large group of workers – including firefighters, police officers and grocery store workers – who have been made eligible for immunization since last week as B.C.’s vaccination program continues to pick up steam.

Are you a child-care worker in B.C.? Have you been vaccinated? If not, why not?

Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca. Respond on Twitter @juliemaclellan.