Some routine childhood vaccines declined in Alberta in past 2 years due to COVID delays | Globalnews.ca

Some routine immunizations for school-age children are on the decline in Alberta. This is thanks in large part to shifts in shots being administered in schools over the past two years of the pandemic.

“Routine school immunizations were delayed in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years across the province due to the COVID-19 response, which has included school closures and the availability of COVID-19 vaccines to the general public,” Alberta’s spokesman said Health Services Kerry Williamson.

“This included immunizing sixth grade students against HPV and HBV vaccine, ninth grade students against diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTap) and MenC-ACYW (which protects against four types of Neisseria meningitis bacteria called meningococci cause disease) and first graders who were not up to date with their childhood vaccinations.”

Provincial data for the Calgary Zone shows measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine immunization rates have fallen from 86 percent of children receiving two doses by age seven in 2019 to just under 78 percent in 2021.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Craig Jenne said the figure is well below the coverage needed to prevent a measles outbreak — about 95 percent.

“Unfortunately, through the pandemic, we have seen our child immunization rates fall back below the thresholds often required to prevent outbreaks of some communicable diseases,” Jenne said.

“There will be some urgency to get back to normality as soon as possible.”

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Families are urged to catch up on routine childhood vaccinations

AHS said it is working with schools across the province to restart immunizations following the unprecedented disruption.

“Public health has been working hard to catch up on late students with zones providing additional catch-up clinics during the summer months,” Williamson said. “Public health is also working with schools to schedule routine school vaccination rounds this school year and will continue to catch up with all late students.”

Schools across Calgary said they are in touch with AHS to ensure vaccinations get into students’ arms as soon as possible.

“AHS has informed us that nurses will be engaging with school leaders to jointly develop a plan for school immunization delivery for the 2022-23 school year,” Manique Werapitiya-Galle, communications specialist for the Calgary Catholic School District, said in a statement to Global News.

“AHS has also informed us that there are students whose immunization records have not been verified in the past three years and that verification will be completed in the 2022-23 school year.”

Jenne noted that the good news is that with most of these childhood vaccinations, getting kids back on schedule is fairly easy.

“This isn’t ‘You have to get it this month or next month.’ There’s some flexibility here,” he said.

And if you’re concerned about delays for your child, Dr. Jenne that it is best to contact your GP to plan next steps.

“The key is, if your child is missing a vaccine, talk to not only your GP but maybe your pediatrician as well and determine what schedule is best for getting your child back on target,” he said .