News Release Archive
HEALTH--PUBLIC HEALTH JOINS IN ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Public Health nurses are once again asking children to roll up their sleeve to receive their immunization vaccine this school year. The Department of Health's Hepatitis B Immunization Program launched in September, 1995 for Grade 4 students is continuing this year. Also, as part of the publicly-funded Nova Scotia immunization program, children between the ages of four and six years of age who entered grade primary this month received a second dose of the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine at the same time as their pre-school booster. The students entering grade primary this year are the very first group to receive the second dose of the MMR vaccine. "Implementing the provinces' immunization program is one of public health's key roles," says Dr. Jeff Scott, Provincial Medical Officer of Health. "The immunization program is consistent throughout the four health regions and is a good example of a preventive health care initiative." The new Hepatitis B Immunization Program for grade four students received a tremendous response in its first year. More than 95 per cent of grade four students, or more than 12,000 children, received the Hepatitis B vaccine. Public Health nurses administer the vaccine in three doses during the school year. Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of liver disease. It is a virus that can cause liver damage such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. The second dose of the MMR vaccine ensures that children aged four to six years have a less than one per cent chance of contracting measles and provides extra protection against rubella and the mumps. Public Health nurses administer the Hepatitis B vaccine for grade four students and physicians and Public Health nurses administer the second dose of the MMR vaccine for children aged four to six years free of charge. Immunization programs for school children are being implemented by the Department of Health in cooperation with the Department of Education and Culture, school boards, principals and teachers. -30- Contact: Sue McKeage 902-424-3581 trp September 09, 1996 - 3:30 p.m.