For your child to receive maximum protection against serious childhood diseases,
they need to get all their shots at the right time. To help you make sure that
they do, a vaccination schedule that you can easily follow has been developed
especially for infants and children. This schedule may be a little different
depending on which province you live in. Talk to your child's doctor about your
provincial vaccination schedule, and ask your child's doctor or nurse to give
you a record book to help keep track of all the shots your child gets.
What vaccines should your child receive?
Certain vaccines are covered by a provincial or territorial health plan, which
means that you don't have to pay for them. Others are not covered by all provincial
and territorial health plans, and you may have to pay for them, depending on
where you live. Ask your doctor or public health nurse for more information.
Vaccines covered by all health plans
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib vaccines - These vaccines
can sometimes be given as a single shot, also referred to as "5-in-1 vaccine,"
known as DPTP-Hib or DPT-polio. These vaccines protect against diphtheria, tetanus,
pertussis, Hib (hemophilus influenzae type B), and polio. There is also
a 4-in-1 shot that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio.
MMR vaccine - This one easy shot can help protect your child from 3
diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella.
Hepatitis B vaccine - This vaccine helps protect against the hepatitis
B virus, which attacks the liver.
Talk to your doctor about how many doses of each vaccine your child needs
and at what ages your child should receive the doses.
Children who had trouble breathing or had severe swelling of the skin or mouth
when they got the shot before should not receive these vaccines.
Vaccines not covered by all health plans
The Canadian pediatric Society and Health Canada's National Advisory Committee
on Immunization also recommend that children receive some vaccines even though
they may not be covered by all provincial and territorial health plans. You
may have to pay for them, depending on where you live. To find out more, talk
to your child's doctor.
These vaccines are:
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine - This helps protect your child
or teen from chickenpox.
Pneumococcal vaccine - This helps protect against infections caused
by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, including meningitis (a
brain infection), bacteremia (bloodstream infection), pneumonia (lung infection),
and ear infection.
Meningococcal vaccine - protects against diseases caused by a bacteria
called Meningococcus, including meningitis and septicemia (a serious
blood infection that can cause death very quickly).
Talk to your child's doctor to find out if these vaccines are right for
your child.
It's not too late to vaccinate. If your child has was not vaccinated
as a baby, it's not too late to help protect your child against childhood diseases.
Talk to your child's doctor about vaccination schedules for older children.
Should your child receive any other vaccines?
If your child is at high risk from developing serious complications from influenza
(the flu), talk to your child's doctor to determine if a flu shot is needed.
Children are considered at high risk if they have heart or lung problems (like
cystic fibrosis or asthma) or a chronic condition like diabetes or have to be
treated for long periods of time with ASA (Aspirin®).
Talk to your doctor about whether a flu shot is right for your child.