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Immunization Program

Who do I call for my child's needles/immunizations?

What is Immunization?
Immunization is a process that helps your body fight off diseases caused by certain viruses and bacteria. One way for you to be immunized is to receive a vaccine.

What is a Vaccine?
A vaccine is a liquid made from germs such as viruses and bacteria, which is usually given to people by needle. Vaccines contain germs that cannot cause the disease you are being protected against. All vaccines are licenced for use in Canada by the Bureau of Biologics, within Health Canada.

Which Diseases Should my Child be Protected Against?
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that infects the liver. It is spread from person to person through contact with infected blood and body fluids. Half the people infected with this virus may not know they have it. Sometimes this illness may cause liver cancer and other serious liver problems such as cirrhosis of the liver.
Diphtheria is caused by bacteria that infect the nose and throat. These bacteria release a poison that may cause breathing problems, heart failure and paralysis. Diphtheria is spread like a cold, by coughing and sneezing.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) is caused by bacteria and begins like a cold. These bacteria may cause severe coughing, choking, whooping and vomiting spells. This can last for weeks or months. This is a very serious disease in babies under 6 months of age.
Pertussis is spread like a cold, by coughing and sneezing.
Tetanus is caused by bacteria found in dirt, rust, dust, manure and human stool. When these bacteria get into an open cut, they can cause muscle spasms(lockjaw), convulsions and death.
Haemophilus influenzae type b is a type of bacteria. It can cause infections of the lining around the spinal cord and brain (meningitis) and other problems of the nervous system. These bacteria can also cause pneumonia, swelling in the lower part of the throat, deafness or death. Haemophilus influenzae type b infections are spread like a cold, by coughing and sneezing.
Polio is caused by a virus. Polio is spread by eating or drinking material which contains the polio virus. It may cause paralysis and, occasionally, death.
Measles is caused by a virus. It can cause a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes. Measles can last for 1 to 2 weeks. It can also cause swelling of the brain, pneumonia, convulsions, deafness, brain damage and death. Measles is spread like a cold, by coughing and sneezing.
Mumps is caused by a virus. It can cause fever, headache, and swollen, painful cheeks and neck. It can also cause deafness, infections of the lining around the spinal cord and brain (meningitis), and sterility. Mumps is spread like a cold, by coughing and sneezing.
Rubella (German Measles) is caused by a virus. It can cause fever and a rash. Rubella usually lasts for less than a week. Rubella is spread like a cold, by coughing and sneezing. If a pregnant woman who has never had rubella or the vaccine is infected with this virus, she could have a miscarriage. Her baby could be born with cataracts, deafness, heart defects and brain damage. Before you become pregnant, ask your doctor if you need this vaccine.
Varicella (Chickenpox) is a very contagious disease which 95% of children catch by the time they are 12 years of age. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Usually chickenpox causes only an aggravating, itchy rash with some loss of time from school. The chickenpox rash may appear in crops of small red areas that look like pimples, then develop into small blisters or vesicles. The rash usually develops over a three day period. After about 4-5 days the blisters usually dry up and scab over but this can be prolonged for up to 10 days.

Why say "Yes" to Vaccines?
By saying "yes," you are protecting your child against the diseases just described. The risks and dangers of the disease are always many times greater than any possible risk from the vaccine. No vaccine can guarantee your child will be fully protected against any contagious disease.

What questions will I be asked before my child gets a vaccine?
You will be asked:

if you have read and understood the information presented to you by the nurse;
if you have any questions about the vaccines your child is going to receive;
if your child is healthy today;
if your child has allergies;
if your child has received vaccines in the past (you will need to bring your child’s immunization card with you to the clinic); and
how your child reacted after his/her last injection.

What could happen to my child after getting a vaccine?
After getting a vaccine, your child may:

have a slight fever;
have some decrease in activity;
have some decrease in appetite;
have some irritability;
have a sore, red, swollen spot at the place where the injection was given;
limp for a couple of days (if the vaccine was given in the leg); and
have a small painless lump at the place where the injection was given. This lump may last up to 2 months.

Remember, these reactions are normal and should only last for a couple of days!
Once in a while, children may have a more serious reaction. After getting a vaccine, your child may have a high fever of 39.4°Celsius (103°Fahrenheit) or higher. A high fever can sometimes cause seizures. Even though these seizures would be very frightening, studies have shown that they do not cause brain damage or epilepsy.

There is a rare chance that a severe allergic reaction may happen after having a vaccine. This is why we ask you to stay in the Public Health Office after getting the vaccine, so that if an allergic reaction happens, we can help your child.

If my child has a reaction to a vaccine, is there anything I can do?
Yes, here are some things you can do that might make your child feel better after receiving a vaccine:

Hold and cuddle your child.
If necessary you may wish to give your child acetaminophen (i.e., TempraTM, or TylenolTM) right after the vaccine is given. If necessary a second dose may be given 4 hours later and a third dose 4 hours after that. Young children should not be given ASA (i.e., AspirinTM), unless your doctor says it is O.K.
If your child has a fever: undress the child and give lots to drink and give acetaminophen every 4 hours giving no more than 5 doses per day (24 hours). You may want to seek medical advice or assistance if your child’s fever does not go down or does not go away in 2 days.
Put a cold cloth over the place where the injection was given.

What do I do if my child has a serious reaction to a vaccine?
Serious reactions to a vaccine are rare. If your child has a serious reaction, you should call your doctor at once, or go to the emergency room at the hospital or to a walk-in clinic. After you have taken care of your child’s immediate needs, later call your Public Health Nursing Office and tell a nurse what happened.

More information about your child’s vaccines:
Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccine (MMR)
This vaccine should not be given to people:

who have problems with their immune system;
who have an allergy to the antibiotic NeomycinTM;
who had a blood transfusion or were given other types of blood products within the last 3 to 10 months; and
who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant in the next 3 months.

For every 100 children who get MMR vaccine, about 95 of the children will never get measles, mumps and rubella after receiving the vaccine.

Five to twelve days after receiving this vaccine, your child may have a rash which looks like measles and fever. This can last for 1-2 days. Some children may have a sore throat or swollen neck. However, the child has a mild illness compared with that of a child who has not been immunized and gets measles. On rare occasions, a child may also have swollen joints and testicles.

Additional Information:
Books:

Your Child’s Best Shot: A Parent’s Guide to Vaccination, written by Dr. Ronald Gold and published by the Canadian Pediatric Society, 1997.
What Every Parent Should Know About Vaccines, by Dr. Paul Offitt, and published by MacMillan, 1998

Internet Web Sites:

When should my child get the vaccines?
Your child should get these vaccines at the following times:

Age	Immunization to be Received
Two months	Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus and Polio + Haemophilus Influenzae, Hepatitis B; (DaPTP-Act Hib, Hep B)
Four months	DaPTP-Act Hib, Hep B
Six months	DaPTP-Act Hib
Twelve months	Varicella (Chickenpox vaccine)
Fifteen months	Measles (Red), Mumps, German Measles/Rubella (MMR), Hep B
Eighteen months	MMR + DaPTP-Act Hib
Four years	DaPTP and MMR (if did not receive MMR booster at 18 months)
Grade Three	Hep B (series of three) if did not receive a series of three doses previously
Grade Nine	Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td)

Is my child required by law to have vaccines?
No. Before your child starts school in Prince Edward Island, it is highly recommended that your child be immunized against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus and diphtheria. However, if an illness for which there is a vaccine is diagnosed in a school, those children who have not been immunized for that disease will not be allowed to attend school until it is safe to return to school. If parents require additional information about adverse reactions and or benefits, they may be referred to the Chief Health Officer.

Is there a cost for childhood immunizations?
All childhood immunizations are publicly funded by the government of Prince Edward Island.

International Travel Immunization Clinic
The Office of the Chief Health Officer and private physician services coordinate an immunization clinic for international travellers. Information about the clinic is available by calling 629-8846, or 368-6110.

Contact

Charlottetown

16 Garfield Street

Neatby, Anne (Coordinator, Communicable Disease and Immunization Programs)

Sherwood Business Centre / Sherwood Shopping Centre

Lawlor, Sharon (Manager, Public Health Nursing)

O'Leary

Community Hospital

Gorrill, Mae (Public Health Charge Nurse)

Summerside

East Prince Health Centre

Savage, Joan (Coordinator West, Public Health)

Montague

Kings County Memorial Hospital

Ferguson, Sherri (Public Health Nurse)

Souris

Souris Hospital

Rose, Arlene (Coordinator East, Public Health)