During the 2024-2025 school year, a vaccine against invasive meningococcal infections will be offered to students in secondary 2 to 5 who are under 18 years of age.
What is meningococcus?
Meningococcus is a type of bacterium transmitted through the nasal and throat secretions of an infected person. These bacteria can cause severe infections such as meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain) or septicemia (blood poisoning or infection of the blood). Possible complications include deafness, amputation or even death. There are several types of meningococcus; the meningococcal serogroups a, c, w and y are examples of these.
Why is this vaccination catch-up being recommended for secondary 2 to 5 students?
Vaccination against meningococcal infections has been an element of the regular vaccination program for québec’s children and adolescents for a number of years. However, the vaccine previously used only offered protection against one type of meningococcus, serogroup c.
Since 2022, the number of infections involving meningococcal serogroup y have been on the rise in québec and in canada, with the greatest impact being on adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18.
In the fall of 2023, the vaccine against meningococcal serogroup c (men-c-c), which had been offered to all grade 7 (primary school) students, was replaced by a quadrivalent conjugated meningococcal vaccine (men-c-acwy) providing protection against all 4 types of meningococcal bacteria, including serogroup y.
Because the secondary school students in question only received the vaccine against meningococcal serogroup c when they finished their last year of primary school, experts recommend that they should receive a dose of the meningococcal vaccine that offers a protection against all types (a, c, w and y).
Is this vaccine effective? Is it safe?
Vaccination is the best protection against meningococcal infections. The vaccine is safe, and the majority of post-vaccination reactions are benign and short-lived. To learn more, go to: https://publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca/msss/fichiers/piq/feuillets_ang_2024/A17_meningococcal-quadrivalent.pdf
How can one get the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine?
The catch-up vaccination using the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine will be offered in schools in 2024-2025. For more details on vaccination calendars or to schedule an appointment, please call your local CLSC.