Pneumococcal Vaccine, Varicella Vaccine, and Meningococcal Vaccine

In January of 2005 the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador added 3 new vaccines to the Provincial Immunization Schedule:

Pneumococcal Vaccine
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine
Meningococcal Vaccine

How will these vaccines protect my child?

Pneumococcal vaccine prevents infections from pneumococcal bacteria that can cause meningitis, pneumonia, blood infections and some common ear infections.

Varicella vaccine prevents chickenpox and the complications caused by chickenpox including encephalitis (infection of the brain) and pneumonia.

Meningococcal vaccine prevents infections by meningococcal bacteria that can cause bloodstream and brain infections, such as meningitis.

Why have these vaccines been added?

These vaccines are recommended as universal childhood vaccines by the Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Adding these vaccines to the immunization program protects the health of our children and their families. Immunization is one of the most important and effective ways to prevent these diseases.

Who gets these vaccines?

Children born on or after January 1, 2005 receive the pneumococcal vaccine. Children who were born before this date can receive the vaccine if they are at high risk of getting the disease.

Children born on or after January 1, 2004 receive the varicella vaccine and the meningococcal vaccine. Varicella vaccine will also be offered to children age 4-6 (starting kindergarten) and meningococcal vaccine in grade 4 and grade 9.

Is it safe for my child to have 2 or 3 needles at the same clinic visit?

Yes, this is safe and has been done in other parts of Canada and the USA for many years. Children have no increase in side effects and the vaccines will be just as effective. It is important that children are protected from these diseases as early as possible.

What should I expect when I come to clinic?

   Routine Immunization Schedule for Children beginning series in early
   infancy.
   Your child will be offered the following vaccines at the following times:

Age	Vaccine
2 months	DTaP-IPV-Hib & Pneu C-7
4 months	DTaP-IPV-Hib & Pneu C-7
6 months	DTaP-IPV-Hib & Pneu C-7
6-23 months	Inf
12 months	MMR Var & Men-C
18 months	DTaP-IPV-Hib MMR & Pneu C-7
4-6 years	DTaP-IPV Var (catch-up)

As part of the school health program:

Grade 4	HBV & Men-C (catch-up)
Grade 6	HPV (females only)
Grade 9	Tdap Men-C (catch-up) & HPV (catch-up, females only)

DTaP-IPV-Hib: protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and Haemophilus influenza b
MMR: protects against measles, mumps & rubella
DTaP-IPV: protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and polio
Pneu-C-7: protects against 7 types of pneumococcal disease
Var: protects against varicella (chickenpox)
Inf: protects against influenza
Men-C: protects against type C meningococcal disease
HBV: protects against hepatitis B (3 doses given @ 0, 1, & 6 months)
HPV: protects from Human Papillomavirus (cervical cancer) (3 doses given @ 0, 2, & 6 months)
Tdap: protects from tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis

It is important that your child receives these vaccines at the scheduled times, because your child will then be protected from these diseases as early in life as possible, before they come in contact with these germs.

For additional information and services contact your local regional health authority.

September 2008