Canadian Press Published Saturday, May 7, 2022, 12:34 PM EDT Last Updated, Saturday, May 7, 2022, 1:56 PM EDT
The Ontario Liberals promised on Saturday to add the COVID-19 vaccination to the school’s immunization schedule if elected, although parents may still receive conscientious objections.
Liberal leader Stephen Del Duca said the best way to get back to normal is to make classrooms safer.
“There are nine existing vaccines … on this list of universally mandatory vaccines,” Del Duca said during the suspension of the Ottawa campaign. “We will add the COVID-19 vaccine to this list. And we will do that because science is determined to do that.
But Del Duca said the current exceptions would continue to apply.
Parents can exempt their children from school vaccination requirements through a declaration of medical exemption or due to conscience or religious beliefs.
Provincial data show that about 35% of children aged 5-11 years received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, while 93% of teenagers aged 12-17 years received two doses.
Liberals say progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford has not done enough to promote COVID-19 vaccination, especially for children.
“I think a lot of parents in this province have seen the current provincial leader effectively waving a white flag of capitulation about vaccinations because Doug Ford wanted it all over from the beginning,” Del Duca said at a city playground where a lone hackler shouted for liberals and vaccine mandates.
“He just wanted to wave a magic wand and finish COVID as he ran his re-election campaign.”
Liberals will also demand that all front-line teachers be immunized.
The NDP also called for the vaccination against COVID-19 to be added to the school list and compulsory vaccinations for teachers and educators.
This Canadian Press report was first published on May 7, 2022.
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