Grade 7 School Immunization Program - Lambton Public Health

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Complete the Online Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form once you have reviewed the information on this page.

Lambton Public Health will be visiting your child’s school to provide free vaccines to Grade 7 students:

Meningococcal vaccine (prevents meningitis)
Hepatitis B vaccine (prevents liver disease and liver cancer)
- 2 doses given 6 months apart
Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV; prevents cancers)
- 2 doses given 6 months apart

It is strongly recommended that you protect your child against these serious infections through immunization. Proof of Meningococcal ACYW-135 immunization or a valid exemption is a requirement for school attendance under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.

Students require consent from a parent or guardian to receive these vaccines at school. To provide consent:

Review the vaccine information below
Complete the online consent form

If you have questions or require assistance completing the consent form, please contact LPH at 519-383-8331 or toll free at 1-800-667-1839. A clinic schedule will be posted by the end of September for fall clinics and by the end of March for spring clinics.

Meningococcal Vaccine (Men-C-ACYW-135), Hepatitis B Vaccine, and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV9)

These vaccines are offered for free to Grade 7 students in Ontario as part of the routine school-based immunization program. Vaccination is the best prevention for these infections. It is important to receive these vaccinations before any contact or exposure occurs.

Meningococcal Vaccine (Men-C-ACYW135)

Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection that can cause:

Meningitis: an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord
Septicemia: a blood infection that can damage organs

Meningococcal disease is rare, but is fatal in 1 out of 10 people infected and up to one-third of people infected will have a permanent disability. It is spread through droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing or through direct contact (e.g. sharing water bottles, eating utensils, kissing). The meningococcal vaccine provided in Grade 7 protects against 4 of the most common and severe strains of bacterial meningitis (A,C,Y,W135).

For more information, read Ontario Meningococcal Fact Sheet.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

HPV is a highly contagious viral infection that causes 90% of cervical cancers, 90% of genital warts, and cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth, and throat.

About 75% of sexually active Canadians will have at least one HPV infection in their lifetime. It is spread by skin-to-skin contact in the genital area (penetration is not required) or during genital, anal, or oral sex. HPV9 vaccine protects against 9 strains of HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58). It is up to 90% effective at preventing most genital warts and HPV-related cancers.

This vaccine has been approved for use in Canada since 2006.
For more information, read: Ontario HPV Fact Sheet, Getting the HPV Vaccine, and www.HPVinfo.ca.

Hepatitis B (HB) Vaccine

Hepatitis B is a highly infectious, viral infection that can cause:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Abdominal pain
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin, eyes)
• Serious liver damage; liver cancer
• Death

It is spread through contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person or objects contaminated with their blood (razors, nail clippers, used injection drug equipment). The vaccine protects against the HB virus. The vaccine is 95-100 percent effective when you receive a complete series.
For more information, read: Ontario Hepatitis B Fact Sheet

What to expect after vaccination

These three vaccines are safe and well tolerated. Side effects, if they occur, are usually mild and go away in a few days.

Common side effects include redness, tenderness, and swelling at the injection site, mild headache
Occasionally fever or chills can occur (this means the immune system is working)
Although rare, serious side effects (e.g., anaphylaxis) are a risk with the administration of any vaccine. It is recommended that you remain in the clinic area for 15 minutes following immunization as this is the most common timeframe when anaphylaxis will occur.

Who should not get these vaccines?

Anyone with a severe allergic reaction to any part of the vaccine or its container.
Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to this vaccine in the past
Anyone with a high fever or serious infection worse than a cold
For meningococcal: Anyone who has been vaccinated within the past four weeks with another Men-C-C vaccine
For hepatitis B: Anyone who has completed a hepatitis B or combination vaccine series containing hepatitis B (Twinrix®, Infanrix Hexa®)

Additional Resources

References:

Government of Canada.(2022, July 28). Canadian Immunization Guide: Part 4 – Active Vaccines. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://www.canada.ca/en/publichealth/services/publications/healthyliving/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines.html;

FAQ

Can a student go to their primary care provider to receive these vaccines?

Yes, all three vaccines may be available at your primary care provider’s office. Call ahead to make sure they have them in stock.

Do I need to submit the consent form if my child already received these vaccines or has an appointment to receive them elsewhere?

No, you do not need to complete the consent form if you do not consent to your child receiving these vaccines at school. Ensure vaccines received elsewhere are reported to Lambton Public Health.

Are 3 vaccines ok on the same day?

Yes, research shows that your child’s immune system can handle more than one vaccine at a time; children do not experience increased side effects when multiple vaccines are given at a time.

Note: The three vaccines are separate and given in separate needles.

How many doses of each vaccine are needed?

Meningococcal vaccine: 1 dose

Hepatitis B vaccine: 2 doses (if given between 11 and 15 years of age); 3 doses (if series is not complete by age 16)

Human papillomavirus (HPV): 2 doses (if series started before age 15); 3 doses (if series started after age 15)

Are students still eligible to receive these three vaccines if they missed them in Grade 7?

Yes, those in Grades 8 to 12 remain eligible to receive the vaccine for free and can visit their healthcare provider or public health clinic.

After Grade 12, there may be costs associated with receiving some of these vaccines.

Does my child need the meningococcal vaccine (Men-C-ACYW-135) in Grade 7 if they received Meningococcal Conjugate C (MenC-C) vaccine as an infant?

Yes, the Men-C-ACYW-135 version of the vaccine protects against additional strains and is a requirement for school attendance according to the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).

What should I do if my child misses the clinic held at their school?

Contact your primary care provider or make an appointment at public health by calling 519-383-8331, or wait until the spring school clinics to start their vaccine series.

Will my child be suspended from school if they do not get these vaccines?

Meningococcal vaccine is required under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), so your child must receive it or have an exemption on file.

Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are highly recommended, but not required under ISPA.

Do I need to report Grade 7 vaccines received at school to Lambton Public Health following the school clinic?

No, Lambton Public Health nurses will document these vaccines directly into our system, so you do not need to report vaccines received at school clinics.

When a student has received vaccine(s) at school, a note from a nurse will be sent home so their parent/guardian can keep a record of the immunization.

Complete the Online Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form once you have reviewed the information on this page.

Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form

View and fill out the form online.

Grade 7 Consent Form

Questions?

If you have questions related to child and youth vaccines, please contact us.

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Vaccines for Children

Vaccines for Adults

COVID-19 in Lambton

Influenza in Lambton

Complete the Online Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form once you have reviewed the information on this page.

Meningococcal Vaccine (Men-C-ACYW-135), Hepatitis B Vaccine, and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV9)

What to expect after vaccination

Who should not get these vaccines?

Additional Resources

References:

FAQ

Complete the Online Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form once you have reviewed the information on this page.

Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form

Questions?

GetTheVaccine.ca

Complete the Online Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form once you have reviewed the information on this page.

Complete the Online Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form once you have reviewed the information on this page.