Q: Why aren’t teachers and daycare workers considered “high-priority” for the H1N1 vaccine? Teachers are in daily contact with children (and sick children). Also, many teachers are in their childbearing years and lots of them get pregnant. I don’t understand why teachers aren’t at the front of the line for vaccination.

A: When outbreaks of infectious disease occur, schools and daycare centres are invariably among the places hit first and hardest. Children are virtual microbe-spreading machines and teachers know this well – they tend to get every bug out there. By virtue of being in contact with large groups of children, teachers at relatively high risk of contracting H1N1.

However, the priority groups for vaccination are not those at highest risk of contracting the disease, but those at highest risk of suffering complications and dying if they are infected. This in an important distinction.

The priority groups are:

- People under 65 with chronic health conditions;

- Pregnant women;

- Children aged six months to five years of age;

- People living in remote and isolated communities, particularly First Nations;

- Front-line health workers;

- Care providers to those at high-risk.

As you can see, pregnant women (including teachers) are a high priority for the vaccine. Some jurisdictions, like Quebec, are also urging all pregnant teachers, daycare workers and health professionals to take “preventive early maternity leave” to lessen their risk of contracting H1N1 influenza.

Daycare workers who care for children under the age of six months are a high-priority group and should be vaccinated. Daycare workers and teachers of children aged six months to five years, as well as those care for or teach children with chronic health conditions like cystic fibrosis are also considered a high-priority group in most jurisdictions though there are varying interpretations of what the term “care provider to those at high-risk” means.

So, while not all teachers and daycare workers are at the front of the line for vaccination, some of them should be.

Many have wondered why front-line health-care workers are considered high priority and teachers are not. After all, nurses and doctors are not at higher risk of complications and dying if they are infected. There are two reasons: 1) Front-line health-care workers treat a lot of high-risk patients and could put those patients at grave risk if they passed on the flu bug; 2) They are needed to treat people who are sick with the flu (and other conditions), particularly if there is a pandemic that causes widespread illness. Put crudely, a sick nurse would cause a lot more sickness and social disruption than a sick teacher.

Almost 30 providers signed up, or renewed their current ad.

You sent us a not-so-subtle message: Our prices were too high for today’s times.

We listened.

Although the summer sale is over, we have permanently reduced our already low rates:

• 6 months: $35
• 1 year: $65
• 2 years: $110

It’s now easier (and cheaper!) than ever to reach potential families. Click here to join (or renew) today: http://durhamregiondaycare.com/members/

Take advantage of the busiest time of the daycare season with our summer special!

It’s just $20 for a six month listing — new or renewal — on our busy site.

Simply enter coupon code Summer09 to build your custom, searchable, photo-enhanced ad on DurhamRegionDaycare.com.

Click here to join!

http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/article/128141

This guy was just three balls of dirt-filled panyhose until a few days ago when it started to sprout!

And now we have a very hairy caterpillar in our kitchen. My husband is determined to plant it in the backyard.

What a cool idea to teach kids about nature and growth, while having fun, too!

Eric, Alice and I will be there just inside the front entrance, so be sure to say hello and enter to win all this booty:

• Haircuts, shampoos & accessories from Melonhead Children’s Hair Care
• Funky maternity shirt from Spegg Wear
• Free portrait session and gift certificates from Shelly Ferguson Photography
• Tagalicious Blankie from Balaboosta Baby
• Eight-week workout session from Mommy and Baby Fitness
• Baby wrap from Wee Ones by JaJoC
• Two one-hour treatments and coupons from Feet First Reflexology

Another special thanks to our friends in the Durham Region parent-geared business community for the support and product donations. Don’tcha all love freeeeee stuff?

See you there!

Stop by and say hi! We’ll be promoting the site to parents by handing out Durham Region Daycare business cards and raffling off some great gift baskets.

If you’re a childcare provider, now is the time to sign up: Because we’ll be seeing hundreds of parents the next few weeks, we’re offering a 30% discount to list or renew your daycare!

Click here, and enter coupon code Show09.

Want more info? Email me at info@durhamregiondaycare.com

Look forward to seeing you!

The most noticable is the addition of provider photos on the front page. These are randomly generated, and changed each time the page is refreshed.

It’s a great, visual way to highlight providers, and give extra exposure — clicking on the photo/link brings users to that listing.

And it certainly freshens up the home page, something I’ve wanted to do for ages.

On the inside of the site, we’re working hard to get automatic renewals going this week, and the ability to use a coupon for special promotions.

Enjoy!

Name: Tamara

Family: Married to Ken for almost 9 years and we have three wonderful children. Connor is 7, Sierra is 5 and Callum is 20 months. We also have two bunnies named Hoppy and Pumpkin.

Daycare type & location: Tamara’s Tots Home Daycare, located in North Oshawa.

How long in business: 5 years in home daycare and 3 years in a centre.

Why did you decide to become a childcare provider?: I missed working with kids and wanted to be home with my own children.

What’s your favourite part of the day?: Circle time. I love seeing the kids dance and sing and express themselves. They are little balls of energy.

What do you find most challenging about your job?: Scheduling. Trying to get everything done and spend quality time with the kids too.

What makes you unique?: I help run a local home daycare provider group (Childcare Providers Unite). This group has allowed me to be a better provider and parent. We meet on a regular basis to learn new things, exchange ideas and plan lots of wonderful field trips to take the kids on.

Favourite memory as a provider: Hearing the kids call each other their best friends. They are so little, but they form such bonds.

If you could change one thing, what would it be?: To have a bigger playroom. It’s always nice to have more room to do more fun activities.

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• Child Care. What Canadian Parents Need Now: Listen up, politicians, as Today’s Parent readers tell it like it is. Full story here.
• Report Card: How the provinces — and the country — spend on child care. Full story here.
• Four Ideas That Could Change Child Care: Surprise — it may happen sooner than you think. Full story here.

Don’t forget there are great resources and links on Durham Region Daycare for parents and providers.