Immunization is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious disease.

Starting Jan. 1, 2012, three new vaccines will be added to the British Columbia childhood immunization schedule, to ensure that children in B.C. get the most effective protection possible from preventable diseases.

The Province is expanding its current childhood immunization program to include rotavirus vaccine, a varicella (chickenpox) booster, and hepatitis A vaccine for Aboriginal children, both on- and off-reserve. Total purchase costs for these vaccines will be approximately $3.1 million per year.

The rotavirus vaccine is administered orally, and protects infants from diarrhoea and vomiting caused by the rotavirus. All infants born on or after Nov. 1, 2011 will be eligible. The first dose is administered at two months of age, followed by a second dose at four months.

To help provide lifetime immunity against chickenpox, a varicella booster dose has also been added to the immunization schedule. This booster has been recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization as offering improved and longer lasting protection. Children get their first dose at 12 months. The second dose will now be offered to children at school entry (four to six years of age). Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes an itchy blistering rash, but can also cause infections in any part of the body, including the brain.

In addition, B.C. will now be offering hepatitis A vaccine to all Aboriginal infants and children. Although B.C.'s overall hepatitis A rates have declined over the past 15 years, outbreaks have continued to occur in Aboriginal communities. A targeted vaccination program for Aboriginal children will help prevent illness in this group. Hepatitis A affects the liver and can cause fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and yellow skin and eyes. It is easily spread through activities such as sharing of food and changing of diapers.

The new additions to B.C.'s immunization schedule have been reviewed and recommended by the BC Communicable Disease Policy Advisory Committee and the BC Immunization Committee. With these additions, B.C. will continue to have one of the most comprehensive immunization programs in Canada.

To find out more about childhood immunizations, contact HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit: www.ImmunizeBC.ca

Quick Facts:

• The rotavirus vaccine prevents about three out of four cases of rotavirus disease, including almost all severe cases requiring hospitalizations.
• Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhoea and hospitalization for diarrhoea in children under five years of age.
• The first symptoms of rotavirus infection are usually fever and vomiting, followed by diarrhoea and stomach pain. These symptoms appear one to three days after infection. Diarrhoea can last from four to eight days.
• Chickenpox is most common in children, but most people will get chickenpox at some point in their lives if they have not had the chickenpox vaccine. Even healthy children can have serious disease.
• Chickenpox can be especially serious in pregnant women, newborns, teens and adults, and people who have immune system problems that make it hard for the body to fight infection.
• The publicly funded varicella immunization program began in B.C. in 2004. Since then, the number of related hospitalizations has dropped by up to 84 per cent in hospitals that participate in active surveillance.
• Some people infected with hepatitis A do not get sick, but can unknowingly spread the disease.
• While overall hepatitis A rates in British Columbia stabilized at a low rate following the introduction of a targeted immunization program in the mid-1990s, outbreaks in Aboriginal groups have remained a more common occurrence.

Learn More:

Immunize BC: www.ImmunizeBC.ca

HealthLink BC: Telephone at 8-1-1, or visit: www.healthlinkbc.ca

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)