|
This immunization program is offered to children by all other
provinces in Canada, and is recommended by the World Health
Organization to prevent a potentially serious acute infection, or a
chronic infection that can lead to liver scarring, chronic hepatitis
or liver cancer.
Some questions have been raised regarding this program:
Why are Grade 4 students being immunized?
The vaccine is highly protective for young children, and children
up to age 10 can be given an infant dose of vaccine. Vaccine
given at this age group (before the onset of sexual activity) will
protect them from Hepatitis B infection before they engage in
potential risk-taking behaviours, or before they become employed in
occupations which may expose them to infectious body fluids.
What if a parent hasn’t yet returned his
or her consent form, or is uncertain about the consent form and did
not complete it?
A signed consent form must be present to proceed with immunization.
Parents should contact Regional
Health Authorities to inquire about immunization in such a
situation.
A Valuable and Safe Program
The Manitoba Department of Health, along with other organizations
such as the Laboratory
Centre for Disease Control in Canada, the Centers
for Disease Control, and the World
Health Organization, support this as a valuable and safe program.
There is a very small risk of side effects from this vaccine.
Thus, it is up to each child’s parents to make the final decision on
this immunization by being informed of both benefits and the risk of
the vaccine.
Parents who have additional questions or concerns about the
immunization program can call:
- Health Links at Misericordia Hospital (in Winnipeg at 788-8200
or toll free throughout Manitoba at 1-888-315-9257).
- Public Health Nurses who administer this program.
- Local Medical Officers of Health.
These fact sheets are available in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document
Format (PDF). If you don't have the Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed on your computer, please click
here first.
| R E C O M M E N D E
D R E S O U R C E S |
Available at local bookstores:
– Your child’s best shot: A parent’s guide to
vaccination (Canadian Pediatric Society)
Available on the Internet:
|
