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Routine school immunization program starts July 26

Jul 22, 2021 | 10:10 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – As medical professionals were too busy responding to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Alberta Health Services now hopes to return to more normal vaccination work.

The routine school immunization program returns in Southern Alberta on Monday, July 26, and runs through August.

This program encompasses those enrolled in Grades 6-10 for the upcoming school year.

The vaccines included as part of the Grade 6 school immunization program are Hepatitis B vaccine, which is important to prevent serious damage to the liver, and Human Papillomavirus vaccine, also known as HPV vaccine, which helps prevent against certain types of cancers.

The Grade 9 vaccines include a dose of dTap vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis and a dose of meningococcal vaccine, which protects against meningitis. For more information, please visit immunizealberta.ca.

Appointments can be made at the existing AHS COVID-19 immunization sites or at local public health offices.

“By making use of our COVID-19 clinic sites, which are already in operation, we can increase our offering of immunization to students and families before the 2021/2022 school year starts,” reads a statement from AHS.

If your child is due for routine immunization, call 1-888-635-0318 or your local public health office.