Submitted by Mary Woodworth R.N., Albert County Community Health Centre
506-882-3100
506-882-3100
Not that many decades ago, there was no way to protect yourself from devastating diseases such as polio, diptheria, tetanus and meningitis, or wildly contagious infections such as measles. Outcomes were tragic. Lifelong paralysis, stillbirth, neurodegenerative disease, encephalitis, even death.
Vaccines changed this landscape. As time progressed, more and more diseases became preventable by vaccination, and health outcomes greatly improved.
Vaccines contain a component or weakened form of a bacteria or viruses. The component or weakened form of bacteria or virus in the vaccine Does Not cause disease.
Vaccines changed this landscape. As time progressed, more and more diseases became preventable by vaccination, and health outcomes greatly improved.
Vaccines contain a component or weakened form of a bacteria or viruses. The component or weakened form of bacteria or virus in the vaccine Does Not cause disease.
How Vaccines Work
Vaccines teach your body's defence (immune) system how to protect you against a specific type of bacteria or virus.
Different vaccines protect against different types of bacteria or viruses. To ensure you have a full and lasting protection you may need to get more than one dose of some vaccines.
Vaccines are given at an early age because young children are most vulnerable to diseases and need to be protected as early as possible. For example, children under the age of two are at high risk of serious complications from pneumococcal disease, which can lead to three serious infections, including meningitis, pneumonia and bacteremia (blood infection).
Common Diseases Treated by Vaccines
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by the pneumococcal bacteria which can lead to various illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis, and blood stream infections. The disease spreads through coughing, sneezing, close contact with others and contact with contaminated surfaces. Adults 65+ and those living with chronic lung conditions are among those at highest risk.
The pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar 20, is now publicly funded. Please speak with your healthcare provider to decide if this is for you.
Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease. Influenza in humans is caused by the influenza A and B viruses. Seasonal influenza epidemics occur annually in Canada, mainly in the late fall and winter months. It can cause mild to severe illness. While most people recover within seven to ten days, others are at a greater risk of experiencing severe complications. Groups at higher risk of severe influenza infection include children aged 0 to 59 months, adults 65+, and people with chronic illness, pregnancy, and residents of long-term care facilities, and those living in under-serviced communities.
With new strains of the influenza virus circulating each year, annual flu vaccination is recommended. The influenza vaccine is publicly funded for all ages, beginning at 6 months of age. The Covid 19 vaccine, which protects against infectious respiratory disease caused by the SARS 2 virus, is also publicly funded.
With our annual fall flu clinics, you may choose to receive the two vaccines at the same time. Stay tuned for the dates. They will be taking place in late October and early November.
RSV-Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a contagious respiratory virus. It is common around the world and is most active in Canada during the fall and winter months. RSV enters the body through your mouth, eyes and nose through infected droplets. It is spread through close contact with others. Although it usually causes mild, cold like symptoms, RSV can be a very serious illness in infants. Older adults, adults with underlying chronic conditions, including lung disease, heart disease, advanced liver or kidney disease, or those with weakened immune systems, are increased risk of severe outcomes from RSV. The immune system weakens with age, making it harder for the body to fight off infections.
Currently in N.B., the RSV vaccine is not publicly funded. There are different products and formulations depending on age. This would necessitate a prescription and consult with your health care provider.
Herpes Zoster (shingles) is caused by the reactivation of the Varicella -Zoster virus (chicken pox). Before someone can develop shingles, they must first get the chicken pox. Once you develop varicella and recover from it, your body does not rid itself of the varicella-zoster virus. Instead, the virus remains dormant in you body, specifically in your nerve roots (nerves that immediately branch off from your spinal cord). The virus can then reactivate later in life, causing shingles. If you have ever had the chicken pox, you are at risk for developing shingles. However, shingles is most common in adults over the age of 50.
Shingles causes a painful, blister-like rash that often appears as a stripe or one side of the body, commonly on the torso. The rash can also appear on one side of the face. In rare cases, it can cover a larger portion of the body. Pain, burning or tingling associated with shingles usually lessens as it heals, but on some, the disease can cause severe nerve pain, which can last for months, or years. In severe cases, shingles can also lead to complications such as vision loss in the rash spreads to the eyes, nerve damage and infection, skin infections and scarring.
When you have shingles, you are not spreading shingles itself to others, but rather the chicken pox virus. People who have never had the chicken pox can catch the virus by coming into direct contact with the liquid from the blister/rash. In rare cases where the shingles rash covers a large portion of the body, it is also possible for the varicella-zoster virus to spread through the air and close contact (coughing/sneezing).
The shingles vaccine is recommended for all adults age 50+. While the shingles vaccine is highly effective, it is still possible for immunized persons to get shingles. However, the shingles infection is usually milder and less likely to cause severe complications.
Currently, the shingles vaccine in N.B. is not publicly funded. Consult your health care provider or pharmacist.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German measles) are highly contagious viral infections that occur worldwide. There are no effective treatments for any of these diseases, making prevention essential. Before widespread immunization, hundreds of thousands of Canadians were infected with measles every year. Hundreds of Canadians died of the disease annually, and survivors risked lifelong disability such as deafness and permanent brain damage.
The measles virus enters the body through the mouth or nose. Measles is spread through the air (i.e., when someone who has measles coughs or sneezes in the same room as you and you inhale the infected droplets in the air). In fact, measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Symptoms begin 10-14 days after someone has been exposed to the virus. A high fever is commonly the first symptom to appear. Other symptoms can include a runny, stuffy nose, inflamed eyes a cough, and small white bumps that form on the inside of the cheeks. Usually, two to three days after these symptoms begin, a rash appears, typically on the face. The rash then spreads to the upper body (chest and stomach) then to the arms and legs. The rash is typically accompanied by a high fever. The full body rash often lasts five to six days.
Those at highest risk for severe infection include people who have a weakened immune system, people who have a chronic illness, people who are malnourished or poorly nourished, and infants under one year of age. Pregnant women are also at higher risk for sever infection. A measles infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriages, giving birth prematurely, and a baby having low birth weight.
Who should receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine? Healthy children 12 months to 12 years of age and susceptible unimmunized adolescents aged 13 to 17 should receive two doses. While adults aged 18 or older may receive one or two doses. Adults born in or before 1970 are presumed to have acquired natural immunity through exposure.
All routine childhood vaccines are publicly funded, as well as adult Tetanus and MMR vaccines. Please consult your health care provider or pharmacist. The government of N.B. (gnb) website has a full list of vaccine guidelines and childhood immunization schedules.
Feel free to contact the clinic to speak to an R.N. about your vaccines.
All information in this article is from the Immunize Canada Website.
Vaccines teach your body's defence (immune) system how to protect you against a specific type of bacteria or virus.
Different vaccines protect against different types of bacteria or viruses. To ensure you have a full and lasting protection you may need to get more than one dose of some vaccines.
Vaccines are given at an early age because young children are most vulnerable to diseases and need to be protected as early as possible. For example, children under the age of two are at high risk of serious complications from pneumococcal disease, which can lead to three serious infections, including meningitis, pneumonia and bacteremia (blood infection).
Common Diseases Treated by Vaccines
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by the pneumococcal bacteria which can lead to various illnesses, including pneumonia, meningitis, and blood stream infections. The disease spreads through coughing, sneezing, close contact with others and contact with contaminated surfaces. Adults 65+ and those living with chronic lung conditions are among those at highest risk.
The pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar 20, is now publicly funded. Please speak with your healthcare provider to decide if this is for you.
Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease. Influenza in humans is caused by the influenza A and B viruses. Seasonal influenza epidemics occur annually in Canada, mainly in the late fall and winter months. It can cause mild to severe illness. While most people recover within seven to ten days, others are at a greater risk of experiencing severe complications. Groups at higher risk of severe influenza infection include children aged 0 to 59 months, adults 65+, and people with chronic illness, pregnancy, and residents of long-term care facilities, and those living in under-serviced communities.
With new strains of the influenza virus circulating each year, annual flu vaccination is recommended. The influenza vaccine is publicly funded for all ages, beginning at 6 months of age. The Covid 19 vaccine, which protects against infectious respiratory disease caused by the SARS 2 virus, is also publicly funded.
With our annual fall flu clinics, you may choose to receive the two vaccines at the same time. Stay tuned for the dates. They will be taking place in late October and early November.
RSV-Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a contagious respiratory virus. It is common around the world and is most active in Canada during the fall and winter months. RSV enters the body through your mouth, eyes and nose through infected droplets. It is spread through close contact with others. Although it usually causes mild, cold like symptoms, RSV can be a very serious illness in infants. Older adults, adults with underlying chronic conditions, including lung disease, heart disease, advanced liver or kidney disease, or those with weakened immune systems, are increased risk of severe outcomes from RSV. The immune system weakens with age, making it harder for the body to fight off infections.
Currently in N.B., the RSV vaccine is not publicly funded. There are different products and formulations depending on age. This would necessitate a prescription and consult with your health care provider.
Herpes Zoster (shingles) is caused by the reactivation of the Varicella -Zoster virus (chicken pox). Before someone can develop shingles, they must first get the chicken pox. Once you develop varicella and recover from it, your body does not rid itself of the varicella-zoster virus. Instead, the virus remains dormant in you body, specifically in your nerve roots (nerves that immediately branch off from your spinal cord). The virus can then reactivate later in life, causing shingles. If you have ever had the chicken pox, you are at risk for developing shingles. However, shingles is most common in adults over the age of 50.
Shingles causes a painful, blister-like rash that often appears as a stripe or one side of the body, commonly on the torso. The rash can also appear on one side of the face. In rare cases, it can cover a larger portion of the body. Pain, burning or tingling associated with shingles usually lessens as it heals, but on some, the disease can cause severe nerve pain, which can last for months, or years. In severe cases, shingles can also lead to complications such as vision loss in the rash spreads to the eyes, nerve damage and infection, skin infections and scarring.
When you have shingles, you are not spreading shingles itself to others, but rather the chicken pox virus. People who have never had the chicken pox can catch the virus by coming into direct contact with the liquid from the blister/rash. In rare cases where the shingles rash covers a large portion of the body, it is also possible for the varicella-zoster virus to spread through the air and close contact (coughing/sneezing).
The shingles vaccine is recommended for all adults age 50+. While the shingles vaccine is highly effective, it is still possible for immunized persons to get shingles. However, the shingles infection is usually milder and less likely to cause severe complications.
Currently, the shingles vaccine in N.B. is not publicly funded. Consult your health care provider or pharmacist.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German measles) are highly contagious viral infections that occur worldwide. There are no effective treatments for any of these diseases, making prevention essential. Before widespread immunization, hundreds of thousands of Canadians were infected with measles every year. Hundreds of Canadians died of the disease annually, and survivors risked lifelong disability such as deafness and permanent brain damage.
The measles virus enters the body through the mouth or nose. Measles is spread through the air (i.e., when someone who has measles coughs or sneezes in the same room as you and you inhale the infected droplets in the air). In fact, measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Symptoms begin 10-14 days after someone has been exposed to the virus. A high fever is commonly the first symptom to appear. Other symptoms can include a runny, stuffy nose, inflamed eyes a cough, and small white bumps that form on the inside of the cheeks. Usually, two to three days after these symptoms begin, a rash appears, typically on the face. The rash then spreads to the upper body (chest and stomach) then to the arms and legs. The rash is typically accompanied by a high fever. The full body rash often lasts five to six days.
Those at highest risk for severe infection include people who have a weakened immune system, people who have a chronic illness, people who are malnourished or poorly nourished, and infants under one year of age. Pregnant women are also at higher risk for sever infection. A measles infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriages, giving birth prematurely, and a baby having low birth weight.
Who should receive the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine? Healthy children 12 months to 12 years of age and susceptible unimmunized adolescents aged 13 to 17 should receive two doses. While adults aged 18 or older may receive one or two doses. Adults born in or before 1970 are presumed to have acquired natural immunity through exposure.
All routine childhood vaccines are publicly funded, as well as adult Tetanus and MMR vaccines. Please consult your health care provider or pharmacist. The government of N.B. (gnb) website has a full list of vaccine guidelines and childhood immunization schedules.
Feel free to contact the clinic to speak to an R.N. about your vaccines.
All information in this article is from the Immunize Canada Website.
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