Province Expands Childhood Vaccination Program

The province is taking another step in protecting the health of children in Nova Scotia by providing free vaccinations against meningitis, chickenpox, and whooping cough.

Health Minister Angus MacIsaac announced today, Nov. 23, a three- year plan to expand Nova Scotia's immunization program.

"Immunization is key to preventing disease. More than 40,000 children and adolescents in Nova Scotia will benefit from these new vaccines this year alone," said Mr. MacIsaac. "This is a very positive change and a step forward in keeping our young people healthy."

The province will invest an additional $9 million over the next three years, as part of the National Immunization Strategy, to introduce new vaccines and expand existing programs.

Starting Jan. 1, 2005:

• one-year olds and 14- to 16-year-olds are eligible to receive the meningococcal conjugate C vaccine to prevent this type of meningitis;
• the chickenpox vaccine program will be expanded to include all children from one to six years of age;
• all children born Jan. 1, 2005 and after will be eligible to receive pneumococcal vaccine, which protects against pneumonia, meningitis and blood infection;
• 14- to 16-year-olds will receive a combined vaccine protecting them against whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria.

Dr. Jeff Scott, chief medical officer of health said he's pleased to see the start of the new vaccine program.

"We will see positive changes for children in year one, and we'll continue to expand the program into 2007," said Dr. Scott. "I encourage parents to get their children vaccinated since vaccines offer good protection against disease with little risk of side- effects."

Support for the expanded program is widespread. "With the introduction of these vaccines, we will protect Nova Scotia children from most vaccine-preventable diseases, and have achieved national standards for universal vaccine programs," said Joanne Langley, an IWK Health Centre pediatrician.

Nova Scotia also took a step in protecting children aged 6 to 23 months from flu when it expanded its influenza vaccination program this fall.

The new immunization programs will be administered by physicians and public health nurses, usually when children receive regular vaccinations.

The National Immunization Strategy was approved by the ministers of health in 2003. This plan will bring Nova Scotia in line with the rest of the country as provinces respond to the recommendations in the National Immunization Strategy.