Protect your little ones before they start kindergarten

Do you have a little one about to start kindergarten this September? Or do you have clients who do? If so, it’s important to make sure that their vaccinations are up-to-date before school starts.

Children are exposed to germs every day. Germs can spread easily in crowded places like the classroom and playground. All children, starting at age four, should receive two free kindergarten booster vaccines:

• Tdap-IPV – protects against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio
• Chicken pox (varicella)

While most of these infections are now rare in BC because of routine childhood vaccination programs, the measles outbreak last month, and whooping cough outbreak (also known as pertussis) in Vancouver Coastal and the Fraser Health regions last fall are a reminder that these diseases are still in our communities and can spread quickly among those who are unprotected. Vaccines are safe: it is much safer to get the vaccine than to get the disease.

Vaccination rates are declining

The vaccination rate among kindergarten children has been declining over the last seven years. There’s been an 11 per cent decrease in Vancouver Coastal Health and five per cent overall in British Columbia. We’re obviously concerned about this trend and want to see the rates turn around.

An immunization visit is a great way to catch up on other shots that might have been missed as part of a child’s infant vaccination series.

Clinic locations & schedules

The free shots can be obtained from family doctors or from public health nurses at VCH Community Health Centres. For more information & VCH clinic locations and times, visit the VCH website.

Resources for parents/clients

To teach your clients about immunizations, share or download the booklet Immunization: An important choice you make for your child (PDF).