Important immunization reminders
Advisory Alert
April 17, 2023
*Cette information est seulement disponible en anglais.
To: Local Health System Partners
FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Choosing and using correct vaccine products for age and concurrent vaccine administration
This Advisory Alert provides important information about vaccine product choice based on age and guidance on concurrent administration of vaccines.
Public Health Sudbury & Districts is currently implementing its school-based immunization program including its duty to enforce immunization requirements under the provincial Immunization of School Pupil’s Act (ISPA).
Students may present to you for required and recommended immunizations. Please ensure you diligently identify the correct vaccine product for age when offering vaccines to eligible students. Administration of an incorrect vaccine product for age is a vaccine error and doses may not be considered valid. This may result in re-immunization with the correct product at appropriate intervals in order for the student to be properly protected and compliant with ISPA requirements (as applicable).
Vaccine products based on age
Meningococcal vaccines
- Infants and young children require meningococcal conjugate C (Men-C-C) [Menjugate or NeisVac-C].
- Students in Grades 7 to 12 require meningococcal conjugate ACYW-135 (Men-C-ACYW-135) [Nimenrix, Menveo or Menactra].
Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccines
- Infants and young children should receive MMR vaccine [Priorix®, MMR®-II] at ≥ one year of age and univalent varicella [Varilrix®, Varivax®III] at 15 months of age.
- Children 4 to 6 years of age should receive MMRV vaccine [Priorix-Tetra®, ProQuad™]. MMRV is only authorized for use in children aged 12 months to 12 years of age.
- Individuals aged 13 years of age and older requiring missing doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, and/or varicella vaccine, should receive MMR vaccine [Priorix®, MMR®-II] and/or univalent varicella vaccine [Varilrix®, Varivax®III]. These students are NOT eligible for the quadrivalent product.
Concurrent administration of vaccines
With consideration of the minimum age and interval between vaccine doses, most routine vaccines can be safely and effectively administered at the same visit. Concurrent vaccine administration is a strategy for ensuring catch-up immunization, which is especially important in the recovery phase of the pandemic. In general, all vaccine doses for which a person is eligible should be administered at a single visit to increase the probability that the individual will be fully immunized. Exceptions to this include different formulations of vaccine that protect against the same disease (i.e., Men-C-C and Men-C-ACYW-135 which should be administered ≥ 4 weeks apart). Refer to the Canadian Immunization Guide for further information.
For live vaccines not administered concurrently, spacing of 4 weeks between vaccines is required. This results in a delay in the student being fully immunized and subject to ISPA enforcement for noncompliance.
Please continue to seek every opportunity to provide students with all the vaccines for which they are eligible. Please report any vaccines provided promptly to Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
Questions about immunization can be directed to the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Program at 705.522.9200, ext. 458 or toll-free 1.866.522.9200. To report a vaccine please fax the confidential fax line at 705.677.9618.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
NOTE: All Advisory Alerts are found on our website.
This item was last modified on April 17, 2023