Following significant uptake for immunizations and no additional cases since Dec. 28, 2017, Interior Health has declared an end to the meningococcal outbreak in the Okanagan.
More than 14,000 Okanagan residents aged 15-19 are now protected against meningococcal disease, of which 11,417 immunizations administered as part of the outbreak.
害羞草研究所淭he Office of the Provincial Health Officer and BC Centre for Disease Control have been working closely with Interior Health since the start of the outbreak,害羞草研究所� said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. 害羞草研究所淲e commend Interior Health害羞草研究所檚 efforts and collaboration with local communities to expand immunization which played a critical role in preventing the spread of this devastating disease and ending the outbreak.害羞草研究所�
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Interior Health credits this milestone immunization uptake to its partnership with school officials and community stakeholders in the Okanagan that resulted in quickly mobilizing large school immunization clinics, availability of vaccine at local pharmacies, and significant media coverage.
Interior Health害羞草研究所檚 response to the outbreak has been significant害羞草研究所攁rranging thousands of doses of vaccine transported from across Canada, scheduling hundreds of clinics to offer immunizations throughout the Okanagan and partnering with local pharmacies as another option for individuals to access vaccine.
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害羞草研究所淚 want to thank the public for helping us reach this milestone, by sharing information with their friends and family and encouraging those most at risk to get immunized,害羞草研究所� said Dr. Silvina Mema, IH medical health officer. 害羞草研究所淎 large proportion of the high-risk population is now protected against meningococcal disease, which will greatly reduce the likelihood of future cases of this disease.害羞草研究所�
From late September to November 2017, three cases of meningococcal disease were identified in the Oliver area, prompting Interior Health to take public health action by offering free immunization at Oliver Secondary School. This was later expanded to individuals up to age 24 in the Okanagan Falls and Osoyoos areas.
On Dec. 14, after an increasing trend of cases over a six-month period, Interior Health in consultation with the BC Centre for Disease Control and the provincial health officer, declared an Okanagan-wide meningitis outbreak affecting 15-19 year olds. The outbreak declaration was immediately followed by a mass immunization campaign for all Okanagan residents in this age group.
Immunization Stats
害羞草研究所� 16,687 害羞草研究所揟otal number of doses of vaccine brought to the Okanagan
害羞草研究所� 14,503 害羞草研究所� Total number of eligible residents who have received the Meningococcal Quadrivalent vaccine before or during the outbreak (11,417 received vaccine during the outbreak)
害羞草研究所� 2,185 害羞草研究所� Most immunizations on a single day (December 19, 2017)
害羞草研究所� 68.3 per cent 害羞草研究所� Percentage of target population immunized
害羞草研究所� 73 害羞草研究所揟otal immunization clinics held at secondary and post-secondary schools in December and January
害羞草研究所� 8,210 害羞草研究所揟otal number of students immunized at school clinics
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