SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The territory's chief medical officer, Dr. Andre Corriveau, announced two new vaccination programs for children at a press conference on Monday, both set to come out this fall.
Chief medical officer Dr. Andre Corriveau says the new vaccines have proven cost-effective in the South, and are sure to prove even more so in the territory where the price of health care, especially in the communities, is far higher. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
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"There is still planning work to be done," he said. "But the budget has been approved."
The new immunization programs include an oral vaccine for rotavirus, which causes diarrhea and severe dehydration in infants, and a second dose of the vaccine against varicella, more commonly known as chicken pox. The first is administered soon after birth and the second is ideally given before children enter school and are exposed to greater risk of infection.
Corriveau said that while rotavirus is rarely fatal, it typically forces parents to stay home from work and puts unnecessary pressure on the health care system.
"The vaccine has been available for a few years and we now have the funding for it," he said.
Administered orally, the rotavirus vaccine requires two doses in the first few months of life. New studies show that two doses of vaccine against chicken pox are also most effective for long-term protection.
Currently, children in the NWT receive one dose of chicken pox vaccine, along with two staggered doses of a combination vaccine against the mumps, measles and rubella, more commonly known as the MMR shot. As of this fall, the MMR vaccine will also contain immunization against chicken pox – or varicella – making it an MMRV shot. Children will receive two MMRV doses before the enter school, but there will also be a catch-up program for older children who got the the two MMR shots, but not the second dose of chicken pox vaccine, where the latter will be offered on its own.
All vaccinations in the Northwest Territories are offered on a voluntary basis with parents having to give consent. Manager of public health at Yellowknife Health and Social Services Mary Lou Murphy told Yellowknifer that the vast majority of parents are keen on vaccination programs once given information and had their questions answered.
"(Immunization adherence) is not 100 per cent," she said. "Some parents want to alter the schedule, but our role is really that of educators and we strongly recommend that for the best protection, the proper vaccination schedule should be followed."
Murphy stated that while the odd parent will refuse to have their child vaccinated after speaking to a public health nurse, families simply not going to Well Child clinics are more common. Between five and 15 per cent of children in the NWT do not receive the MMR or varicella vaccines.
"We do a lot of outreach to try to get to those people who, either because they lack transportation or they have other things going on in their lives, can't make it to the clinic," Murphy said.
Corriveau stated that while complications arising from chicken pox are rare they remain traumatic for the "one in 1000" who experiences them. Beyond scarring, the open sores present a higher risk of contracting flesh-eating disease, skin infections and even in rare cases Encephalitis, a dangerous swelling of the brain.
He also said that while the new vaccination programs are not related to, nor based on, similar programs in Canada, immunizations against rotavirus and chicken pox have proven cost-effective in southern jurisdictions.
"Our costs for health care are higher," he stated. "The unit cost of treatment here is much higher, but the price of the vaccine is the same for all provinces and territories."
