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 C. This program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and is available at no cost to all Grade 7 students.

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. Students need only one dose of the meningitis C vaccine to be fully protected. This vaccine is offered during the spring clinic, when students receive their second dose of hepatitis B vaccine. You can obtain the date of your child's immunization clinics by contacting your school or calling York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

If you would like your child to receive these vaccines at the school clinic, please sign the consent forms with your child and return them to the school.

Hepatitis B Immunization Consent Form

Meningitis C Immunization Consent Form

Working with our schools

It is beneficial for students to understand ahead of time why they are being immunized. This helps to minimize any anxiety they may have about getting needles and facilitates informed consent. To help teachers prepare students for their immunizations, York Region Community and Health Services has provided the following resources to Grade 7 teachers in the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic Districts School Board.

PowerPoint Presentation: A presentation to use with students to help them learn about Hepatitis B and Meningitis C and how immunization can protect them

These teaching resources are matched to the Grade 7 curriculum and include activities, worksheets and overheads:

Teaching Resource for YRDSB

Teaching Resource for YCDSB

Summary: A 2-page outline of the "must-know" facts about Hepatitis B and Meningitis C

For further information, please see the following:

Hepatitis B Fact Sheet

Meningitis C Fact Sheet

Immunization Information from Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Public Health Agency of Canada: Hepatitis B information

Health Canada: Meningitis C information

For more information, please contact

York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653