Tips for visiting more safely ▶▶Hold visits outdoors. The virus that causes COVID-19 is much less contagious outside, because of better ventilation. ▶▶Maintain social distance. Sitting two metres apart from those you are visiting can provide an extra layer of protection. ▶▶Wear masks. Wearing a protective face covering and asking those you are visiting to wear one too, can reduce the chance of getting COVID-19. ▶▶Open the windows. If you’re holding a gathering indoors, consider opening the windows. The added ventilation may reduce the risk of catching the virus. ▶▶Keep households separate. The more households you interact with, the higher your risk. Limit visits to a single household at a time, to reduce risk. Should grandparents worry about infecting their grandkids? For most of the pandemic, the conversation has centred around protecting older adults. Now that older adults have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, some people may be wondering if we should worry about the younger people who have not been vaccinated. According to Dr. Grad, grandparents generally do not have to worry about infecting their grandkids, because children are at less risk of serious complications from COVID-19. “I don’t think grandparents should be afraid of giving something to a grandchild, unless that grandchild has special health problems,” he says. Will children receive the vaccine? The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been approved for children 12 and up, but trials for younger kids are still ongoing. Dr. Caroline Quach, MD, is the chair of the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI), a Canadian entity that makes recommendations for the use of vaccines in Canada. Quach has advised that vaccines for kids aren’t expected until 2022. When will Canadians be fully vaccinated? The vaccine rollout has been slower than desired here in Canada, especially compared to the United States. While many Americans have received their second doses, Canadians are lagging behind, with most people having only received their first dose. Most Canadians can expect to be eligible to receive their second dose by the end of the summer, with higher-risk Canadians becoming eligible sooner. Until then, those who are only half-vaccinated can make reasoned decisions and combine other strategies to mitigate their risk, while socializing safely. Summary If you are fully vaccinated, rest assured that it’s safe for you to visit with your unvaccinated grandkids. If you have only received one dose of a two-dose series, however, you’re advised to behave as if you’re unimmunized. You can use other strategies, such as masking, social distancing and outdoor visits, to reduce your risk while waiting for your next shot. The decision to return to regular visits is yours. But once you are vaccinated, there’s really no reason to avoid social activities. The vaccines work very well, Grad says, and the probability of a fully vaccinated person getting a severe case is low. “The risk to fully vaccinated people is so low that most people would say hey, the benefits of seeing my grandchildren and hugging them again far outweighs a small chance of getting sick.” Note: This interview took place on June 7, 2021. As research, knowledge and public health guidelines are constantly changing, it’s important to stay up to date with the latest information. COVID-19 CSANews | SUMMER 2021 | 37
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