Province unveils meningitis immunization program
Posted Jan 31, 2011 12:53 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Alberta is launching a province-wide meningitis immunization program.
Starting Tuesday, up to 40-thousand grade 9 students will be offered the meningococcal vaccine through school-based clinics.
The two million dollar program will become part of the annual immunization program offered to Alberta adolescents.
The vaccine will protect against four different strains of the disease.
Andre Corriveau, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, says each year there are a number of cases of meningitis around the province and many of those lead to hospitalization.
Health officials believe the immunization program will go a long way to protect adolescents who are a high risk group.
