Reminder of Immunization Changes

New vaccines are now available in Nova Scotia to give more health protection to children and adolescents.

Starting Jan. 1:

• one-year-olds (those born on or after Jan. 1, 2004) and 14- to 16-year-olds will receive the meningococcal conjugate C vaccine to prevent this type of meningitis;
• the chicken pox vaccine program is expanded to include all children from one to six years of age;
• all children born Jan 1, 2005 and after are eligible to receive pneumococcal vaccine at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age. This vaccine protects children against certain types of pneumonia, meningitis and blood infection;
• 14- to 16-year-olds will now receive a combined vaccine protecting them against whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria.

To minimize the number of immunization visits required, children should receive these new vaccines at their next regularly scheduled doctor's appointment or at public health clinics.

As announced by Health Minister Angus MacIsaac in November, these changes are part of a three-year plan to expand Nova Scotia's immunization program.

Dr. Jeff Scott, chief medical officer of health, is encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated. "Immunization is key to preventing disease -- vaccines offer good protection against disease with little risk of side-effects," said Dr. Scott. "We need to take advantage of these new vaccines in order to keep more young people healthy."

For more information, Nova Scotians should contact their local public health office or www.gov.ns.ca/health .