As of Friday, only eight children aged 0 to 5 have received their vaccine against COVID-19 in Gaspésie.

• Read also: COVID-19: Quebec records 12 new deaths; 2126 people hospitalized

Per MRC, this represents three children in Baie-des-Chaleurs, two in Haute-Gaspésie, only one in Côte-de-Gaspé, and two in the MRC of Rocher-Percé.

In Bas-Saint-Laurent, the figures are slightly higher, but remain modest: 68 children aged 0 to 5 have received their first dose, while 150 additional appointments are planned by the end of the month.

Remember, however, that the vaccination of young children only started last week and that it is not available every day. It should also be noted that the vaccination of children aged 0 to 5 is not a public health recommendation, but rather an offer to parents.

“What parents need to be reminded of is that this is one more offer that is offered to them, explained Gilles Turmel, spokesperson for the CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent. It's normal for parents to have a lot of questions. Moreover, when they go to a vaccination clinic with their children, there are about sixty people in Bas-Saint-Laurent who have been specially trained to answer parents' questions.

It should also be noted that 54% of adults aged 60 and over in Bas-Saint-Laurent have received their fourth dose of vaccine against COVID-19. That's three percentage points above the provincial average. Between 200 and 400 doses per day are administered to the area.