Grade 7 Immunization Update
HPEPH provides immunizations to grade 7 students attending schools in the region for three vaccine preventable diseases:
- Meningococcal-C-ACYW (Menactra)
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Each year, two clinics are held at each school, to accommodate the two-dose schedule of immunizations for Hepatitis B and HPV. The first clinics occur in the fall/winter followed by second clinics in the spring.
HPEPH was unable to provide spring clinics this year, due to COVID-19 related school closures. Therefore, students missed receiving their second doses of Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines. Students who were absent for fall/winter clinics also missed the Meningococcal-C-ACYW vaccine.
Please note: An interruption/delay in the completion of a multi-dose vaccination series does not require the series be restarted. While optimal protection against these diseases may not be obtained until the vaccination series are completed, delays between doses do not result in a reduction of the final level of protection.
Options for Students to Receive Missed Immunizations
HPEPH nurses are calling students who consented to the Grade 7 Immunization Program to offer the following three options:
1. Book an appointment at the HPEPH’s Immunization Clinic
2. Book an appointment with their healthcare provider
HCP offices can order these vaccines online or via fax for students who were in Grade 7 during the 2019-2020 school year (born in 2007).
Parents/students are required to report all immunizations back to HPEPH for accountability purposes, thereby decreasing the chance of repeat immunizations. Please encourage your patients to do so by referring them to one of our reporting options.
See the table below that outlines the adequate spacing between doses:
| Immunization (Brand Name) | Number of Doses Needed | Schedule | Required for School Attendance? |
| Meningococcal-C-ACYW (Menactra) | One dose (full vial, 0.5mL) | Grade 7 (age 12) | YES |
| Hepatitis B
(Engerix Adult) | Two 1mL doses
(Adult dose) | 24 weeks apart
(when given between ages 11-15) | NO |
| Human Papillomavirus (Gardasil 9) | Two doses (full vial, 0.5mL per dose)* | 24 weeks apart
(when first dose is given before age 15) | NO |
*three doses of HPV vaccine are advised (given at zero, two and six months) if a student is immunocompromised
3. School Immunization Clinics
If feasible, 2019-2020 grade 7 students will be provided an opportunity to receive missed doses when the Health Unit returns to their school during the next school year. We encourage parents and students to seek these immunizations sooner to reduce delays in completing these immunization series, as it is uncertain how schools will be functioning in the fall of 2020 and thus we can not guarantee further interruptions will not occur.
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