Grade 7 school-based vaccine clinics

• One dose

Men-C-ACYW-135 vaccine protects against meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can cause meningitis (an infection of the brain), blood poisoning and infections in the lungs, joints, bones, heart and skin. The infection progresses quickly and can be fatal. Ten to 20 percent of survivors suffer some form of permanent disability such as hearing loss, neurological damage or limb loss.

Meningococcal bacteria is spread through contact with saliva and nasal mucus of an infected person through: kissing, sneezing, coughing, and sharing items used by mouth such as utensils, drinks, toothbrushes, and vapes/cigarettes.

Disease symptoms

Sudden high fever, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, light sensitivity, sleepiness, confusion, and/or a red/purple rash.

• Two doses given six months apart

HB vaccine protects against hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that is spread through contact with blood and bodily fluids of an infected individual. It causes serious short-term illness and can lead to long-term (chronic) infection causing scarring of the liver, liver cancer, and in some cases, death.

To prevent infection, avoid sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers; sexual contact with an infected person; non-sterile tools used in tattooing, body piercing and acupuncture; and dirty needles used for injecting drugs.

Disease symptoms

Short-term symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea/vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, stomach pain, joint pain, and/or yellow skin/eyes (jaundice). People with a chronic infection may not have symptoms or know they are infected but can pass the disease to other people.

• Two doses given six months apart
• Students with a weakened immune system are eligible to receive three HPV doses given at zero, two and six months

HPV-9 vaccine protects against human papillomavirus.

Human papillomavirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads through skin-to-skin contact. It can cause cancer and genital warts in all genders. Vaccination before sexual activity is an effective way to prevent HPV-related cancers and diseases in the future. Visit canadavshpv.ca for more information.

Disease symptoms

Most people with HPV do not have symptoms and spread the virus to others without knowing. HPV can cause head and neck, cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and penile cancers and genital warts.