New guidelines say most healthy women can skip the yearly ritual of pelvic exams. Credit: Shutterstock

Interior Health expanding immunization for meningococcal disease over the holidays

Immunizations will be offered at public health centres through drop-in clinics or booked appointments, and at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations throughout the Okanagan.

Due to high demand and additional vaccine received, Interior Health (IH) will continue to offer the Meningococcal Quadrivalent vaccine for all people in grades 9-12, or aged 15-19 throughout the Okanagan over the holidays.

DROP-IN CLINICS:

  • Will continue on December 23, December 26-29, and January 2-5 for this age group, who have not yet been immunized.

BOOKED APPOINTMENTS:

  • Many local health centres will also be accepting immunization appointments. Please call your local health centre, if you would like to schedule an appointment.

PHARMACIES:

  • Select Shoppers Drug Mart locations in Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and Princeton will also have limited supplies of vaccine for immunizing members of the public within this age group. Find a participating Shoppers Drug Mart location near you.

SECONDARY SCHOOL CLINICS:

  • Will continue to be offered in January, when school is back in session.

IH would like to remind the public, the vaccine has been offered to grade 9 students in B.C. since 2016, as part of the routine immunization program. If you have received this vaccine in the last three years, or as part of the grade 9 immunization program in 2016/17, you don’t need to be re-immunized. If you are unsure if you have received this vaccine, call your local public health centre during regular business hours for a record.

For more information about the meningococcal outbreak in the Okanagan, visit interiorhealth.ca.

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Taylor Rae

Taylor Rae

Before university, Taylor spent a year abroad living in Thailand which encouraged her to finish her degree studying in Turkey, both experiences have made her an avid traveller. Taylor graduated from Thompson Rivers University with a degree in Communications and Public Relations. Although born on the coast, Taylor has lived the majority of her life in Kamloops and enjoys what the region has to offer. In her spare time, you can find Taylor volunteering in the community or out on an adventure with her friends and her dogs.

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