October 20, 2023 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is providing school-based clinics for three routine recommended immunizations for Grade 7 students.
The immunizations include hepatitis B, meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) and human papillomavirus (HPV-9).
School immunization nurses will visit elementary schools throughout Simcoe and Muskoka from October to December to provide immunizations for round one of the three free vaccines for Grade 7 students. Information will be sent home with these students through the school in advance of school-based clinics.
Students in Grade 8 who missed a dose and did not finish their vaccine series in Grade 7 will be caught up in round two, scheduled for April to June 2024.
“The school-based immunization program is an effective way to reach and vaccinate young people and prevent the spread of serious infectious diseases,” said Dr. Colin Lee, SMDHU’s associate medical officer of health. “These vaccines significantly reduce the risk of hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. TheHPV-9 vaccine is important because it significantly reduces the risk of various types of cancers such as throat and cervical cancer and prevents genital warts. Vaccination remains one of the best tools we have to protect youth against harmful diseases before they come in contact with them.”
The Health Unit advises getting immunized according to Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule. Having up-to-date immunizations helps to ensure that students have the best protection against serious vaccine-preventable diseases, reduces the risk of outbreaks in schools and allows the Health Unit to act quickly to prevent and control outbreaks.
The Health Unit reminds parents and caregivers that Meningococcal disease is a designated disease under the Immunization of School Pupils Act that requires children and youth attending elementary or secondary school to be appropriately immunized unless they have a valid exemption.
Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are not required under the ISPA but are strongly recommended.