Youth inoculated

Page 12

The recent outbreak of meningococcal infection in and around Edmonton that killed two teenagers sparked a move by health authorities to vaccinate area children aged two to 19.

Sixteen cases of meningitis have been reported in Edmonton and surrounding areas since December. The provincial total of reported cases since December 1999 is 20.

The inoculation process was done in two separate phases. The initial inoculation program began Feb. 15, targeting those aged 15 to 19 living within the cities of Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan and St. Albert, and the counties of Leduc, Strathcona, Sturgeon and Parkland. On Feb. 17, the program was expanded to include children two to 14. The town of Onoway and the areas within the Crossroads Regional Health Authority were also added to the inoculation program on Feb. 17.

For the initial vaccination program, the inoculations were done at the high schools in the affected areas. The expanded program involving the younger children was not school based, instead requiring parents to take their children to sites within their communities.

Steve Buick is with public affairs for the Capital Health Authority. He said the main reason the inoculations of the younger group of children were offered at the community level is because parental consent is required to vaccinate children under 14. By offering the vaccinations at various community locations, parents could bring their children for vaccinations, and no paperwork would be required.

The second round of inoculations was held Feb. 23 to 28 at 11 locations throughout the Capital Health region, as well as in various locations throughout the other areas involved in the inoculation program.

Buick said there is some increased meningococcal infection risk this year, and a solid statistical basis definitely exists for offering inoculation in the 15 to 19 age group. While the numbers don't bear out the same amount of risk in the younger age group, Buick indicated the younger children were added when parents became concerned once they found out the 15 to 19 year olds were being blanketed by the inoculation program.

"We felt we should offer parents the option," he said.

Eight of the 16 cases of meningococcal infection in the Capital Health region in the past three months have involved those in the 15 to 19 age range, and both of the children who died as a result of their infection were in the 15 to 19 age range.

Buick said there is no way to know if there is any reason why the meningococcal infection cases seem to be clustering in the Capital Health region, or why they are clustering in the 15 to 19 age category.

He said that although the concern is centered around inoculating those in the 15 to 19 age category, the risk for those in that group of actually contracting meningococcal infection is "still just a little worse than one in 10,000." That unlucky one out of 10,000 could possibly die as a result of the disease.

Buick said the meningococcal vaccine is "one of the safest vaccines there is", and that negative reactions to the vaccine are "extremely rare." The vaccination provides protection from meningococcal infection for two to three years.

Marion Perrin is Regional Nurse Epidemiologist with Health Canada's Medical Services Branch (MSB), Alberta Region. Perrin has been involved in co-ordinating the meningococcal inoculation for First Nation communities in the counties affected by the immunization program.

Perrin indicated the MSB has been following the same recommendations as Alberta Health and Wellness, the Capital Health Authority, and the other regional health authorities involved.

The MSB inoculated children in five communities that fall within the coverage area: Hobbema, Enoch, Paul, Alexis and Alexander. The original inoculation program for 15 to 19 year olds began February 15 in the communities of Enoch, Paul, Alexis and Alexander. On Feb. 23 inoculation began for children two to 14 in those communities, and for children in both age groups n Hobbema.