Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 16, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - By the time an infant is 18 months they should have had 13 needles for 11 different diseases.

Inoculations continue throughout childhood, and the needles don't end there, said Wanda White, a communicable disease consultant with the Department of Health and Social Services.

"A lot of adults do get their shots but not as many as we would like," she said.

White said that adults need a booster shot every 10 years for tetanus and diptheria.

During National Immunization Week, April 22-28, the Department of Health and Social Services launched an awareness campaign.

"Our slogan this year is going to be families protecting families," White said.

She said nurses are aware of people's reluctance to get a needle.

"I myself am not keen when it comes to needles, but have found that (the nurses) are really good here in Yellowknife," White said.

And how do they do it so well?

"There's a whole strategy around lessening the adverse effects," she said.

These include distraction methods and visualization exercises.

White said nurses have found that the faster the vaccine is given, the better it is for everyone.

Although adults have to grin and bear it solely for the sake of their health, younger children are rewarded with stickers and small toys.

The number of vaccines infants receive has increased in the past few years.

In 2001 the NWT introduced the chicken pox vaccine to the immunization schedule.

"Years ago we would have medevacs (for chicken pox)," said White.

White said a few years ago a three-month-old infant suffered a stroke post-chickenpox, which is one of the serious side-effects of the virus.

In 2006 another vaccine was introduced.

"The newest one that we've introduced in the NWT is the pneumococcal vaccine for meningitis, pneumonia and those types of things in children."

White said that they are also attempting to bring in Gardisil, a vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer.

The vaccine is available to women in the NWT but is not yet covered under the territorial health care plan.

White said that Health and Social Services is looking to make it available for free.