School will soon be back in session, and this year's grade six and grade eight students will be eligible for routine immunizations. Doctor Stanley Enebeli, Medical Health Officer for the region, explains this is part of the province’s routine immunization schedule program.
Grade six students will receive vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B, while grade eight students receive vaccines for meningococcal meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis A.
Enebeli says these vaccines are provided at these ages as the risk of developing these viruses increase when they enter the teenage years.
“By the time they get into those teenage years, they are more at risk and for being exposed to those viruses. So that is why we try to go ahead of that and provide them those vaccines. As we know, these are all vaccine preventable diseases, that if the kids do get them on time, then they have strong enough protection when exposed to these pathogens.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) works with their partners within the school system to make these immunizations available to students within their school building. Still, the consent of a parent or guardian is required before a student can be vaccinated. Enebeli says parents and guardians are provided consent forms and information packets.
“We send out information sheets with different websites or links that they could look up and just get a little bit more knowledge about these pathogens and the vaccines for itself. Still, if they're unsure or have questions, or they want to clarify some more, then they can reach out to our local public health office.”
Enebeli says teachers can be a great point of contact for questions as well.