Our health unit is starting up school clinics for three routine immunizations.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) says from this week to December, nurses will be at our area’s schools immunizing Grade 7 students against hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, and human papillomavirus.
Officials say it’s the first round of three for the inoculations, and Grade 8 students who are behind can get caught up in round two, which runs from April to June.
“The school-based immunization program is an effective way to reach and vaccinate young people and prevent the spread of serious infectious diseases. These vaccines significantly reduce the risk of hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, and human papillomavirus infections. The HPV-9 vaccine is important because it significantly reduces the risk of various types of cancers such as throat and cervical cancer and prevents genital warts,” said Dr. Colin Lee, SMDHU’s associate medical officer of health. “Vaccination remains one of the best tools we have to protect youth against harmful diseases before they come in contact with them.”
The SMDHU adds that the meningococcal vaccine is required to attend school, and the other two are strongly recommended. For more information about the vaccines, visit SMDHU’s website or call 705-721-7520.
