Immunization Information for Children in Child Care Centres and Students in Elementary or Secondary Schools

Why do people get immunized?
Vaccines may help prevent or reduce the impact of illness due to a disease. Not immunizing your children could result in serious illness. 

Who needs to be immunized? 
Everyone should be immunized. The Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1982 requires that children attending school in Ontario must receive the following vaccines: tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps and rubella.

Children in day care have additional requirements in Peterborough County. They must also be immunized with pertussis and haemophilus influenzae b vaccines. 

When should my children be immunized? 
Some people think that their doctor will let them know when immunizations are due. It is your responsibility to see that your children's vaccines are up to date. 

Parents should advise the Health Unit every time their children who are in day care or school have been vaccinated.

The Recommended Schedule for Vaccination 
in Peterborough County  By Age

Two Months	diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumonia
Four Months	diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumonia
Six Months	diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumonia
Twelve Months	measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis
Fifteen Months	pneumonia, chicken pox
Eighteen Months	diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella
Four-Six Years	diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis
Twelve Years	hepatitis b, meningitis
Fourteen-Sixteen Years	diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
Every autumn	influenza

What diseases are preventable with vaccine?
     Tetanus (lockjaw) causes cramping of the muscles and painful convulsions. The tetanus germ can be found in soil, dust or manure. It does not spread from person to person. Two of every 10 people who contract this disease die. 

      Diphtheriais a disease of the nose, throat and skin. It causes sore throat, fever and chills. It is passed to others through coughing and sneezing. Diphtheria kills one out of 10 people who get the disease. 

     Polio is a germ which may be found in water or food. This disease can cause nerve damage or paralyze important muscles used for breathing, walking and eating. Polio can cause death. 

     Measles is spread easily from person to person through coughing and sneezing. The infection is serious and causes high fever, cough, rash, runny nose and watery eyes. The illness lasts for one to two weeks and complications sometimes occur. Pregnant women can miscarry or give birth prematurely if exposed to the virus. 

     Rubella (German measles) spreads by contact with an infected person through coughing or sneezing. Although it causes a mild illness in children, it is extremely dangerous in pregnant women. Rubella may cause fever, sore throat, swollen glands and a rash on the face and neck. 

     Mumps is a disease that causes fever, headaches and swelling of the cheeks and jaw. It can cause deafness in children and other serious illnesses. People can get mumps from an infected person coughing or sneezing around them. 

     Pertussis (whooping cough) affects people for weeks and most often strikes young children. Symptoms include violent coughing, vomiting and sometimes breathing stops for a short period of time. This illness spreads very easily from an infected person through coughing or sneezing.
Pertussis can lead to other serious complications including pneumonia, brain damage and death. 

     Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a germ that causes serious infection. Children under five years are more likely to get Hib disease. Complications include the development of meningitis which can lead to brain damage, deafness and blindness. The Hib germ spreads to others through
coughing and sneezing. 

     Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and other body fluids and is the biggest cause of liver cancer worldwide. People with this illness often become tired, feverish, lose their appetite and sometimes get yellow skin and/or eyes. There is no cure for Hepatitis B. The vaccine is available
free-of-charge to students in grade seven. Health Unit nurses administer the vaccine in clinics at schools. 

For pneumonia, meningitis and chicken-pox, and all other vaccines, see the Ministry of Health website:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/pub_menus/pub_immun.html

Where can I get more information?
     Call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Program at the Peterborough County-City Health Unit 743-1000 TTY: 743-4700
Toll-free 1-877-743-0101
 

Protect Your Children. Immunize Against  Vaccine Preventable Diseases.