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15 Aug Ontario gives its immunization schedule a boost

Posted at 00:46h in Community News by CHNIG

Starting August 2011, the Ontario government is expanding the immunization schedule to better protect infants and children from serious infectious diseases.

The expanded program includes:

  • A new oral rotavirus vaccine to protect infants against rotavirus – a disease that causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration and lead to the hospitalization of over 1,500 infants and children in Ontario over the past four years.
  • A second childhood dose of varicella vaccine to enhance protection against chicken pox.
  • A booster pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine for adults age 19-64, who often pass this highly-contagious disease to infants and children.

Attached is a fact sheet that provides information about the expanded program, the diseases and the importance of immunization.

For more information, please visit www.ontario.ca/vaccines