Immunization
Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Program Expansion
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is offering two new vaccines and expanding the availability of two others as part of its immunization program. These include :
- A new oral rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix™);
- A new combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine (Priorix-Tetra™);
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) for adults; and
- A two-dose varicella program.
The Vaccines
The rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix™ is indicated for active immunization against rotavirus gastroenteritis for infants six to 24 weeks of age. Rotarix™ will immunize against the G1, G2, G3, G4 and G9 serotypes which are responsible for the majority of rotavirus infection in Ontario.
The MMRV vaccine, Priorix-Tetra™ is indicated for active immunization against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella diseases for children from nine months to 11 years of age.
The varicella vaccines, Varivax® III and Varilrix® are indicated for active immunization against varicella disease (chickenpox) for individuals 12 months of age and older.
The Tdap vaccines, Adacel® and Boostrix®, are indicated for active immunization against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) for individuals four to 64 years of age.
Background
Rotavirus (Rotarix™) vaccine program
Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada to publicly fund the rotavirus vaccine. Epidemiology suggests that there is a high incidence of rotavirus gastroenteritis among children less than five years of age. Many of these children require visits to their primary care provider and some require hospitalization.
MMRV (Priorix-Tetra™) vaccine program
The MMRV vaccine is a combined vaccine that provides protection against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and varicella in a single vaccine. Currently, MMR and varicella immunizations are provided as two separate vaccines. The combined MMRV vaccine will replace these two individual MMR and varicella vaccines reducing the number of injections required.
Two-dose varicella vaccine program
Children born on or after January 1, 2000, who have received two doses of MMR vaccine and one dose of single varicella vaccine, will be offered a second dose of the single varicella vaccine. In 2010, Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended that children receive a second dose of varicella vaccine to improve protection, reduce varicella cases and potential complications from the infection. This second dose of varicella vaccine will enhance protection up to 99.9 percent against chicken pox.
Tdap adult vaccine program
Tdap is currently publicly funded for adolescents 14 to 16 years of age. Ontario has expanded its publicly funded routine Tdap immunization program to offer all adults 19 to 64 years of age one lifetime dose of Tdap vaccine. This lifetime dose of Tdap will replace one of the Td booster doses given every 10 years.
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