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Vaccines are the best way to protect your child against many diseases and their complications. When you get your child vaccinated, you help protect others as well.
The hepatitis B, meningococcal C, and chickenpox vaccines are offered to all students in grade 6. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is offered to female students.
Hepatitis B vaccine protects against the hepatitis B virus. For more information, see HealthLink BC File #25a Hepatitis B Vaccine.
Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It can cause serious health problems including permanent liver damage (cirrhosis). Hepatitis B is also the main cause of liver cancer, which can be fatal.
Hepatitis B virus is spread from one infected person to another by contact with blood or body fluids. This includes an accidental or intentional poke with a used needle, being splashed in the mouth, nose, or eyes with infected blood, being bitten by an infected person, sharing blood-contaminated items such as a toothbrush, dental floss or razor, or intimate sexual contact.
Meningococcal C vaccine protects against infection from meningococcal bacteria type C.
Children in grade 6 should get the vaccine if they have had a meningococcal C containing vaccine before their 10th birthday or if they have never received the vaccine. If they had a dose of meningococcal C containing vaccine on or after their 10th birthday, they do not need a dose in grade 6.
For more information, see HealthLink BC File #23a Meningococcal C Vaccine.
Meningococcus bacteria type C can cause serious and life-threatening infections including meningitis, an infection of the lining that covers the brain, and septicemia, an infection of the blood. For every 10 children who get sick, 1 or 2 will die. Permanent complications of infection include brain damage and deafness.
Meningococcal infection is spread from one person to another by coughing, sneezing, or close face-to-face contact. It can also be spread through saliva or spit by kissing, or sharing of food, drinks, cigarettes, lipstick, water bottles, mouth guards used for sports, and mouthpieces of musical instruments.
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine protects against chickenpox disease and its complications.
If your child had chickenpox before their 1st birthday, they should still get the vaccine as they may not have developed long-lasting immunity and they could get chickenpox again. However, your child does not need the vaccine if they had chickenpox or the vaccine at 1 year of age or older.
For more information, see HealthLink BC File #44b Chickenpox Vaccine.
Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Most people have been infected with chickenpox during early childhood. Infection is more severe in teenagers, adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Complications from chickenpox include pneumonia (lung infection), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and bacterial infections of the skin. Encephalitis can lead to convulsions, deafness, or brain damage. About 3 in 10,000 adults who get chickenpox die from the infection.
The virus is spread through the air by persons sneezing and coughing. It can also be spread through contact with the fluid from chickenpox blisters.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine used in the BC grade 6 program protects girls against 2 types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. It also protects girls against 2 types of HPV that cause genital warts.
The HPV vaccine is also approved for use in boys, but it is not provided for free. Contact your health care provider for more information.
For more information, see HealthLink BC File #101b Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine.
HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Three out of four sexually active women will get HPV at some time.
Anyone who has any kind of sexual activity with another person involving oral or genital contact can get HPV. Sexual intercourse is not necessary to get infected.
Every year in B.C.:
Girls and women are best protected when they get the HPV vaccine before they become sexually active.
In women who have never been infected with HPV, the vaccine:
Common reactions may include soreness, redness and swelling in the arm where the shot was given. Headache and mild fever may also occur. A mild fever and rash (1 person out of 25) can occur within 6 weeks after getting the chickenpox vaccine. The rash is usually 2 to 3 small blisters in the skin near where the needle was given but may sometimes appear on another part of the body.
For any vaccine, there is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue, lips or eyes. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number if any of these reactions occur.
These reactions can be treated and occur in less than one in a million people who get the vaccine. It is important to stay in the clinic setting for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine, as this is the time period when anaphylaxis usually occurs.
Report all serious or unexpected reactions to your public health nurse or doctor.
| Acetaminophen or Tylenol® can be given for fever or soreness. ASA or Aspirin® should NOT be given to anyone under 20 years of age due to the risk of Reye Syndrome. |
If you have concerns that you should not receive a vaccine, speak with your health care provider.
It is recommended that parents or guardians and their children discuss consent for immunization. Efforts are first made to seek parental/guardian or representative consent prior to immunization. However, children under the age of 19, who are able to understand the benefits and possible reactions for each vaccine and the risk of not getting immunized, can legally consent to or refuse immunizations.
Immunize BC: www.immunizebc.ca
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For more HealthLink BC File topics, visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca/healthfiles/index.stm or your local public health unit. Click on www.HealthLinkBC.ca or call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information and services in B.C. For deaf and hearing-impaired assistance, call 7-1-1 in B.C. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages on request. |
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