from      http://www.canoe.ca/LondonNews/01n1.html                                

                                        May 6, 2001

                                 Vaccine blitz going 'flat out'

                                By Jane Sims -- Free Press Reporter

The second phase of the largest vaccination campaign in the area since the 1950s polio scare begins Wednesday when thousands of youngsters are immunized against meningococcal disease.

Within three weeks, nearly 100,000 young people in London and Middlesex County are expected to have been immunized against a strain of the disease that has hit five people since February.

Dr. Graham Pollett, Middlesex-London medical officer of health, said staff have been going "flat out" to prepare for the mass vaccinations.

"Certainly within my career in public, this is the largest I have ever been involved with," he said, comparing the scope to the polio vaccine campaign.

About 70,000 people ages two to 24 who go to school, live or work in London or Middlesex are the targets of the next phase of the program, in addition to the 25,500 people ages 15 to 24 who were immunized last month.

A schedule has been posted on the area health unit Web site at www.healthunit.com, listing where people can be vaccinated in the next three weeks.

The listings are according to school district. High school students will be immunized during school hours. Elementary students are grouped at sites near their schools. All others can attend clinics close to where they live or work.

Children younger than two can attend special clinics in June with a vaccine recently approved by Health Canada.

The expansion of the program was announced after a four-month-old boy was admitted to hospital Tuesday with a form of the disease. His condition is improving.

On Friday, the health unit received confirmation the strain was the same as one that struck four others earlier this year.

The same strain prompted a mass campaign recently in Quebec City. It is possibly the same strain -- serogroup C -- responsible for a similar campaign in Abbotsford, B.C., Pollett said.

Of those exposed to the bacteria, only a very small proportion go on to develop the serious form of the disease.

"We have no way of knowing who those people are," Pollett said. "The one thing we can do to protect them is to immunize as many people as possible and in so doing catch them and reduce their risk."

While there is always a risk of contracting meningococcal disease, the prime
time is in the late winter and early spring, Pollett said.

"In our community, we are seeing ongoing transmission and that's why we
want to expand our immunization program."

Pollett asked that people attend the clinic in their neighbourhood to avoid lineups and waits.

The vaccine is "very safe," he said. The most common negative reaction is soreness at the injection site and sometimes redness. There were also a couple of reports of hives.

Meningococcal disease is spread through nose or throat secretions during activities such as kissing, sharing food, beverages, cigarettes, lipstick, musical instruments with mouthpieces or mouth guards. Coughing or sneezing directly at another person can also spread the disease.

Symptoms include severe headache, a high temperature, vomiting, sensitivity to bright lights, neck stiffness, drowsiness, confusion or coma and a rash of tiny red-purple spots or bruises on any part of the body.

                                      IMMUNIZATION CLINICS

All two- to 24-year-olds who attend school, live or work in London and Middlesex County are eligible to receive free meningococcal vaccine at community clinics beginning Wednesday.

Children under two who live in London or Middlesex County will be offered a special vaccine in early June.

High school students, not previously immunized, will be immunized at their school during school hours.

Elementary school pupils will be immunized at a designated time and clinic close to where they attend school.

All other people who are eligible are being asked to attend immunization clinics close to where they live or work.

Clinics for children under two will be announced soon.

For more information, call the health unit at 663-5317, ext 2330, or check out www.healthunit.com


ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.