Immunization Program for Grade 7 Students

Every year, students in Grade 7 have the opportunity to be immunized against two serious diseases – hepatitis B and meningitis. This program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and is available at no cost to all Grade 7 students. The decision to receive either vaccine is voluntary.

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. There is no cure for Hepatitis B, but most people will recover from it. However, about 10 percent of those infected with the virus will carry it for life. They will be able to spread the virus to others, and may suffer permanent damage to their liver, or even death. Hepatitis B is the biggest cause of liver cancer.

Meningococcal disease is an illness that can cause meningitis (inflammation of the tissue around the brain and spinal cord) or meningococcemia (infection of the blood). This disease can cause severe long-term health complications or death. Infected people may experience hearing loss or kidney problems or require amputations.

Nurses from York Region Community and Health Services visit York Region Schools twice during the school year – in the fall and again in the spring – to provide the immunization clinics. Students require two doses of the hepatitis B vaccine to be fully protected. The first dose is given in the fall and the second dose in the spring. If for some reason a child misses one of the immunization clinics, he or she can get the second dose in grade 8 or at one of the community clinics. Students need only one dose of the meningitis vaccine to be fully protected. This vaccine is offered during the spring clinic, when students receive their second dose of hepatitis B vaccine.

Immunization Program for Grade 8 Students

Every year, female students in Grade 8 have the opportunity to be immunized against Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a very common virus that has many strains. Some of these strains can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. The HPV vaccine can prevent infections by the HPV strains that cause of the majority of cervical cancer and genital warts.

This program is also funded by the MOHLTC and is available at no cost to all Grade 8 female students. The decision to receive the vaccine is voluntary. Three doses of vaccine are required for full protection, and are usually given over six months during the school year.

Female students who start their vaccination series later in their Grade 8 year are able to complete the series in Grade 9 if needed, free of charge. Please note that students must receive their first dose of the HPV vaccine while still in Grade 8 to complete their vaccination series free of charge in Grade 9.

 

 Immunization Clinics

York Region Community and Health Services offer the above vaccines through two types of clinics:

• School based clinics take place in elementary schools where there are 20 or more students who want to be immunized. 
    
  
• Community clinics are available for students who:
  
  • attend schools that are not offered an immunization clinic
    
  • are unable to complete their series of vaccines while attending Grade 7 or 8
    
  • initially chose not to receive the vaccine at the school clinics

Appointments are not necessary. You will need to provide your child's date of birth, current school and a contact phone number. Health cards are not required but are useful for updating immunization records for your child. Consent forms will be available at each clinic. 

Hepatitis resources:
Hepatitis Immunization Consent Form and Fact Sheet

Meningitis resources:
Meningitis Immunization Consent Form and FactSheet

HPV resources:
HPV Immunization Consent form and Fact Sheet

"Talking to your daughter about the HPV" Vaccine tip sheet

 

Additional websites:

MOHLTC - www.hpvontario.ca

Health Canada - www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/hpv-vph_e.html

HPVinfo - www.hpvinfo.ca/hpvinfo.html