From Dr. Colin Lee, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Immunization is one of the most effective public health innovations in protecting people from serious and sometimes life-threatening diseases. Publicly funded vaccines are provided to various life stages, from infancy to adulthood, as a safe and effective way to prevent disease.
of Act on vaccination of children and students (ISPA) provides tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (for those born after 2010) and meningococcal disease to children and youth enrolled in Ontario schools. Requires that you be vaccinated against the disease or have a valid exemption. Children under the age of 6 usually receive these vaccines from their primary care provider, such as their doctor or nurse.
In Year 7, students are eligible to: Three publicly funded vaccines to prevent meningococcal disease, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus (HPV) are provided by public health agencies through school-based immunization programs, and nurses will visit each elementary school twice to provide these vaccines. However, many students born in 2008 are unable to receive routine immunizations due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the schedule for routine immunizations has been delayed.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Board is working with families and health care providers to ensure that all students who have missed a vaccine and are still eligible to receive the vaccine can visit their local health department office or We are working to get you vaccinated by making an appointment with your health care provider. I caught up.
Although not included in ISPA, the hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are highly recommended for all students in 7th grade. Both vaccines are very important and highly effective in protecting young people and their future selves from diseases such as cancer caused by HPV.
Hepatitis B is a virus that is transmitted through the blood, saliva, vaginal fluid, and semen of an infected person and can cause chronic liver infections, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. Many people infected with hepatitis B are initially unaware that they are infected and do not realize they are infected until the disease progresses. Although most people recover from acute infections on their own, there is still a risk that unvaccinated people may become chronic carriers. The best way to protect yourself from infection is vaccination.
HPV can cause cancer in the throat (oropharynx), cervix, penis, and anus, as well as genital warts, and is easily spread. There are over 100 types of HPV. HPV cancers and warts are found in both men and women, but the virus does not discriminate against sexual orientation. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and it is estimated that over 75% of Canadians will contract an HPV infection at some point in their lives.
It’s natural for parents and caregivers to feel uncomfortable about their teens becoming sexually active, and when their children need protection from sexually transmitted infections. You may feel that it is too early. However, vaccinations are most effective when given before potential exposure to the disease. So, ideally, you should get vaccinated when you’re young so that you’re still protected when you’re older.
by Canada’s Immunization Guide, the hepatitis B vaccine is 95 to 100 percent effective before exposure, and the HPV vaccine is highly effective at building immunity against that virus. More than 99 percent of vaccine recipients develop an antibody response to the vaccine HPV type after the series ends.
The health department urges students who missed the opportunity to receive Grade 7 hepatitis B and HPV vaccines at school due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to get vaccinated. I recommend it. As of fall 2023, fewer than 30 percent of Simcoe Muskoka students born in 2008 had been vaccinated. This means approximately 10,000 students currently in 11th grade will still need these vaccines and will be eligible to be vaccinated until the end of August for 12th graders.
If your teen was born in 2008 and does not currently receive the Grade 7 Hepatitis B and/or HPV vaccine, please visit: smdhu.org Make an appointment at one of your local follow-up clinics or contact your health care provider to schedule an appointment.
For more information about the routine and required vaccines that students receive and the diseases they protect against, please visit: smdhu.org. To speak with a public health expert, call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Dr. Colin Lee is the Associate Medical Officer of Health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Authority. His main areas of responsibility are vaccine-preventable diseases, infectious diseases and sexual health.
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