Many parents are divided on the idea of ​​having their toddlers vaccinated, at a time when Health Canada authorizes the administration of the Moderna vaccine in children from six months to five years old.

• Read also: What you need to know about the vaccine for toddlers

• Read also: Health Canada authorizes a first vaccine for children aged 6 months to 5 years

• Read also: Several provinces are preparing the vaccination of children under 5

"That's excellent news! My five-year-old is already vaccinated, but I was worried about his three-year-old brother,” admits Marie-Pier Ouellette.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, a first step towards administering a vaccine to children under five was taken yesterday when Health Canada approved the use of Moderna's Spikevax vaccine.

Children in this age group will now be able to receive two doses of vaccine equivalent to a quarter of those of adults.

Several parents crossed, stroller in hand, in the streets of Montreal on Thursday have the firm intention of going to have their young children vaccinated when possible.

"I trust vaccines, people say it's too new, but the companies have put all the effort into it and they've done so many tests, I believe in science," says Julien Martineau, father of two. children under five.

protect others

Same story on the side of Laurie Damme-Gonneville who is delighted with the announcement from Health Canada.

“It is important for the general protection of the child and for others,” she judges.

For Marie-Ève ​​Ménard, the vaccine will prevent her children from suffering from too strong symptoms if they come into contact with COVID-19.

However, the mother of three daughters, two of whom are in the age group affected by Health Canada's announcement, has some reservations.

“Having received all my vaccines, I find that it does not protect long enough, explains Ms. Ménard. I don't want to have to repeat the vaccinations for the children every two months. They are scared and it's painful, I don't want them to go through that too often."

Several parents we met also agree that they are helping to reduce the spread of the virus by getting their young children vaccinated.

not convinced

If they were many to welcome this announcement, some have some reservations.

"It's good that it's been approved, but as a precaution, we're going to wait since we think that in terms of development, our baby is more vulnerable. We are vaccinated, but we are no longer developing unlike him, ”says Daniela Costa, mother of Luca, one month.

The latter therefore does not intend to have her toddler vaccinated when the latter reaches the age of six months, but does not close the door to vaccination in a few years, if necessary.

“We will also see if the pandemic eases a little, we may not need it,” she adds.

Same story on the side of Marine Hardy, herself vaccinated.

“We do not intend to vaccinate him since COVID affects children less strongly and that does not prevent him from having it either. We had more problems with gastro than when he had COVID, ”explains the mother of young Maël, aged three.

Future revaluation

Others, like several Quebecers in recent months, have contracted COVID-19 recently and believe that their young children have the necessary antibodies to fight the virus again, at least for the moment.

“I will reevaluate this in a few months since the whole family had COVID-19 a month ago. I don't know yet if I will get [my child] vaccinated, I'm thinking about it, ”says Marie-Claude Bégin, mother of a nine-month-old baby, met at the Jean-Talon market.

The vast majority of parents met by Le Journal, whether they intend to have their children under the age of five vaccinated or not, insisted on recalling that they respected the position of other families.