Interior Health Authority declared an invasive meningococcal disease outbreak in their Okanagan health service delivery areas.
As you are likely aware the Interior Health Authority declared an invasive meningococcal disease outbreak in their Okanagan HSDA (Central Okanagan, Penticton, Summerland, Vernon, Enderby, Princeton, and Southern Okanagan). Due to this outbreak, Interior Health is expanding their Meningococcal Quadrivalent Immunization coverage to include all 15-19 year olds in the Okanagan HSDA. Please see Interior Health’s news release dated December 14.
Eligibility Criteria
In response to this outbreak and recognizing that there will be more travel over the holidays, BCCDC has expanded the eligibility for the Meningococcal Quadrivalent conjugate vaccine to include individuals 15 – 19 years of age (inclusive) who:
- Usually live, work or attend school/university in the Okanagan HSDA
- Are planning to travel to the Okanagan HSDA for 3 weeks or longer and
- Have not previously been vaccinated with a meningococcal quadrivalent conjugate vaccine (if uncertain - i.e. no documentation, provide immunization).
Note: Short stay (< 3 weeks) visitors to the Okanagan HSDA are not eligible for publicly funded vaccine. For those who do not meet the eligibility criteria above but want to be vaccinated can visit their local pharmacy or travel clinic to purchase the vaccine.
In alignment with BCCDC, Fraser Health will be providing publicly funded Meningococcal Quadrivalent vaccine to those 15 – 19 years of age meeting the criteria above who are traveling to the Fraser Health region over the holidays and have plans of returning to the Okanagan HSDA.
As we are not anticipating a great number of clients to present for the vaccine, and to prevent potential supply and distribution issues, immunizations for eligible clients will be delivered through Public Health clinics. Please direct clients who meet BCCDC’s expanded eligibility criteria to make an appointment with Public Health. These clients will be seen by Public Health within 2 business days.
To make an appointment with Public Health:
Residents of Fraser East (Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope and Agassiz), call 604-702-4906.
Residents in any other area of Fraser Health, call 604-476-7087.
Members of the public who identify as being a contact to a meningococcal case in the Okanagan HSDA can be referred to Public Health for assessment at 604-507-5471.