Health officials are reminding parents to keep their children’s vaccinations up-to-date. It’s free for infants and school-age kids. Vaccinations protect against highly contagious and potentially serious diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough, and chicken pox. Chief Medical health Officer Dr. Saqib Shabab says you ensure full protection by vaccinating on time and on schedule. Vaccinations are available at public health clinic for pre-school children and through school-based programs. For more details check this story at cjwwradio.com

Infants and preschool-age children are eligible to receive the following free routine vaccinations:

Diphtheria
Tetanus
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Polio
Haemophilus influenza type b
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Varicella (chicken pox)
Meningococcal disease
Pneumococcal disease
Rotavirus

School-age children are eligible to receive the following free routine vaccinations:
Grade 6 students – hepatitis B, bacterial meningitis, varicella (chicken pox), human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine
Grade 8 students – tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) booster
Public Health Nurses review the immunization records of students in Grades 1, 6 and 8 to check if they are up-to-date for all age appropriate vaccinations. Parents will soon start receiving immunization information packages for children in Grades 6 and 8.

If your child missed vaccinations or to check your child’s immunization status, contact your local public health office at www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/public-health/public-health-offices.

Information on Saskatchewan’s immunization programs, the Routine Childhood Immunization Schedule, and vaccine fact sheets are available online at www.saskatchewan.ca/immunize or you can call your public health office or HealthLine 811 to inquire.