Deputy Provincial Health Officer Releases Statement On Back-To-School Vaccinations

The Province is encouraging parents to ensure their children are up to date on all their vaccines as part of back-to-school plans.

Dr. Martin Lavoie, British Columbia’s deputy provincial health officer, says being up to date on routine immunizations protects against illnesses, including measles, mumps and rubella, polio, pertussis (whooping cough) and chickenpox.

Particularly this year, as we are seeing significant increases in measles cases in the province and across Canada, Dr. Lavoie says August is the perfect time to check whether your children’s immunization records are up to date and to book an appointment for any outstanding vaccinations.

“Getting your children vaccinated is the best way to protect them from vaccine-preventable illnesses that can cause serious illness, long-term disability and even death,” he said in a statement.

Children under 18 years are eligible for publicly funded vaccines to protect from more than a dozen diseases, such as influenza, polio, measles, chickenpox and COVID-19.

Visit HealthLink BC to find out which immunizations are recommended for infants and children.

You can book an appointment at a health unit or at some doctor or nurse-practitioner offices.

If your child is over four years of age, you can also book an appointment to get them vaccinated at some pharmacies.

School-age children are routinely offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Grade 6, and tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and meningitis vaccines in Grade 9 at clinics held in schools.

They can also get vaccinated at health units, community health centres, some doctors’ and nurse-practitioners’ offices and some pharmacies.

People who were immunized outside of B.C. or those who have incomplete immunization records can update their records in the Provincial Immunization Registry.

To view Dr. Lavoie's statement, visit Government of British Columbia.