Diphtheria is a serious infection of the nose and throat caused by the diphtheria bacteria.
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a serious infection of the nose and throat caused by the diphtheria bacteria. The bacteria are spread through sneezing, coughing or direct contact with an open wound infected with diphtheria.
What are the symptoms of diphtheria?
The diphtheria bacteria make a poison that can cause weakness, sore throat, fever and swollen glands in the neck.
What are the risks of diphtheria?
The disease can cause very severe breathing problems. It can also cause heart failure and paralysis. About 1 in 10 people who get diphtheria may die.
How can I prevent getting diphtheria?
The best way to not get diphtheria is to get immunized. The vaccine is safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get diphtheria disease. When you get immunized you help to protect others as well.
Who should get the diphtheria vaccine?
The diphtheria vaccine is free (publicly funded) as part of the B.C. routine immunization schedule. Adults who were immunized against diphtheria when they were a child should get a ‘booster’ every 10 years. The diphtheria vaccine is combined with other vaccines to give protection against several diseases with one shot.
Get immunized against diphtheria by making an appointment with your doctor, pharmacist (for those 5 years and older) or Public Health.
Booking an immunization appointment with Public Health
Residents of Fraser East (Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope), call 604-702-4906
Residents in any other area of Fraser Health, call 604-476-7087
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Note: When making an appointment with Public Health, you will be offered a text message reminder through the ImmunizeBC text message reminder system.
Resources
For more information about diphtheria and the diphtheria vaccine, go to:
- Immunize Canada: Diseases and vaccines
Learn more about diseases that can be prevented by routine immunizations. - ImmunizeBC: Diphtheria
Information about diphtheria and the diphtheria vaccine. - Caring for Kids: 5-in-1 or 6-in-1 vaccine
Information for parents from Canada’s paediatricians. - I Boost Immunity
Earn a vaccine for someone in need by answering a quiz. - Kids Boost Immunity
Curated lessons with interactive quizzes that mirror your province's science, health and social studies curriculum – all for free. For every quiz that students complete, they will earn a vaccine for someone in need.