If you thought the debate between COVID vaccination advocates and anti-vaxxers couldn’t get any more rancorous, hold on to your pants – it’s about to get turned up a few notches.

Last week, Pfizer applied to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow for emergency use of their vaccine for kids age 5-11. The FDA’s approval is expected to be a mere formality.

The pharmaceutical giant plans to make a similar application to Health Canada before the end of the month, which means that it won’t be long before school-aged children will be able to get vaccinated in this country as well. That decision is bound to touch off a heated debate over whether or not children should be fully vaccinated in order to attend classes in person.

South of the border, nearly 35 per cent of parents say they don’t plan to get their children vaccinated out of concern for their child’s safety. The number is likely not quite as high here, but you can bet it’s at least over 25 per cent.

Anti-vaxxers are already passionate about refusing the vaccine for themselves. Imagine how passionate they will be when it’s suggested that their children should get the same vaccine.

The debate over whether or not vaccines should be made mandatory in order to go to school was already a hot button issue before the COVID-19 pandemic, with many parents mistakingly thinking that vaccinations were a prerequisite to attending school.

The truth of the matter is that parents can apply for either a medical exemption for their kids, or a conscience or religious belief exemption.

In order to get a medical exemption, the parent must fill out a Statement of Medical Exemption form and get it signed by a physician or nurse practitioner stating the medical condition that prevents them from receiving the vaccine.

For a child to be exempted due to conscience or religious belief, the parent must first watch a vaccine education video after which they must acquire a Vaccination Education Certificate. After that, they must complete a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form and have it signed by a commissioner for taking affidavits in Ontario. They then must submit both the form and the certificate to their local public health unit which will make a determination on whether your child will be exempt or not.

Despite the lengthy and involved process, hundreds of students receive exemptions from having to be vaccinated in Ontario every year.

Whether or not students will be required to get vaccinated against COVID in order to go to school remains to be seen. If they do, you can bet that the number of parents applying for exemptions will go up exponentially. And you can also bet that both sides of the vaccine debate will man the ramparts to steadfastly argue their respective positions.