Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
December 17, 2017 - 9:38 AM
OKANAGAN – The Interior Health Authority is holding more immunization clinics today due to the demand for the meningococcal vaccine.
In a media release issued late yesterday, Interior Health says it was decided to add additional drop-in clinics in Vernon, Kelowna, and Penticton today, Dec. 17, due to high demand.
The health authority declared an outbreak on Thursday, Dec. 14 because it had identified 11 cases of meningococcal disease, mainly in the Okanagan, when in a typical year it would see around five cases.
Interior Health says the risk to the general population is low but immunization is the best defence against the bacterial disease.
The vaccine has been part of routine immunization for Grade 9 students in B.C. since 2016 and those who have received it do not need to get another shot.
Today’s clinics are for young people between 15 and 19 years of age who missed the vaccination at school.
Go here for a more details about the clinics being held in the Okanagan today.
Immunization clinics will be held at secondary schools and UBC Okanagan next week and information about those can be found at the Interior Health meningococcal outbreak webpage here.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander or call 250-309-5343 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2017