Kootenay Lake School District begins Measles Immunization Program in April
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Kootenay Lake School District will begin measles immunization as part of the Ministry of Health catch up program a media release said Thursday.
The program is in response to recent outbreaks in the Province.
“Students in SD8 – Kootenay Lake School District who have not previously been immunized against measles or require their second dose are eligible,” the release said. “The program will be offered by local health authorities and run April through June 2019.”
“A series of immunization catch-up clinic days will be scheduled for those children who may be unimmunized or not fully immunized for measles,” the release added. “Watch for notices in your school newsletters and on the website for notification of these clinic days.”
The catch-up program is the first phase to prepare for a mandatory vaccination registry that will launch in September.
Measles is a very serious and contagious illness. The measles virus can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include cough, fever, runny nose and inflamed eyes, as well as a red rash that appears on the face, neck, arms and legs.
For this catch-up campaign, the Province is initially purchasing $3 million in vaccine — the equivalent of a one year supply of vaccine.
The catch-up program is the first step in government’s two-phase plan to educate people about the importance of immunization and help them become aware of their immunization status. Offering the measles immunization catch-up program now will also help prepare parents for the mandatory reporting of vaccination status, which is planned for the fall of 2019.
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education will work together to ensure implementation of a vaccination registry is as easy for parents and schools.
Information for Parents/Staff
Are you immunized? Check your records. To find a public health unit anywhere in the province, visit: https://immunizebc.ca/finder
Learn more about measles and the vaccines at: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/measles
