News

SickKids, CHEO and Holland Bloorview unite on vaccine mandate policies

Children’s hospitals aim to help protect majority of patients who are not currently eligible for vaccination

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), CHEO and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) are uniting to implement COVID-19 vaccine mandate policies for staff, volunteers, learners and contractors. Their policies go beyond the Ontario government directive requiring that all health-care workers in the province get...

Children’s Health Coalition Response to New Vaccination Directive

TORONTO, August 17, 2021 – The Children’s Health Coalition appreciates the minimum standard policy outlined today by the Chief Medical Officer of Health regarding vaccination of some healthcare workers and plans for policies for education and other children’s sectors. It’s critical to protect children in all settings by ensuring vaccination of adults in their ecosystem – whether that’s in the community, in schools and in healthcare and social service settings. 

We look forward to reviewing the...

Government announces funding to help improve Indigenous children’s mental health and well-being

August 12, 2021, Ottawa, ON, Health Canada

Indigenous children in Canada face inequities in accessing health services, including mental health and wellness resources, and the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened these gaps. The Government of Canada is working with partners to address the unique health needs of Indigenous children and ensure they have access to culturally appropriate mental health services, when and where they need them.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced $2...

Large 42-country study connects teen mental wellbeing to both screen time and physical activity

A study published today in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, involving data for more than 577,000 adolescents (ages 13 to 15) from 42 North American and European countries, finds that increased physical activity is clearly associated with better mental wellbeing and increased recreational screen time, beyond 2 hours per day, is detrimentally related to mental wellbeing. It is the first study to show such clear relationships in a large multi-country sample.

The paper is an international...

Kids 12 and older won’t need an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine at upcoming pop-up clinic!

July 20, 2021 – Ottawa, ON – For four days next week, CHEO and other partners of the Kids Come First Health Team – including Roger Neilson House, community pediatricians and numerous family physicians – will provide COVID-19 vaccines to all youth aged 12 to 17 and their families at the Minto Sports Complex on the University of Ottawa campus. CHEO and Kids Come First partners are calling on community members and media to help spread the word. 

This is...