Grade 5 Vaccination Program Vaccinations For: Hepatitis B (HBV) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Offered to Everyone Offered to Girls Only
Hepatitis B: What is it? Hepatitis B is a virus that can cause liver disease. Some people who have the virus in their bodies may feel very sick. Others may not feel sick at all. 1,000,000 people around the world die each year from Hepatitis B.
How Do I Get Hepatitis B? The hepatitis B virus is spread through blood and body fluids. People who do not feel sick may not know they have the virus. They can pass the virus to someone else without even knowing it.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV):What is it? Human Papillomavirus affects the reproductive organs of the body. Most people with the virus will not feel sick. If the virus is not detected, it can cause cancer of the cervix in women. In Alberta, 40 women will die each year from cervical cancer.
How do I Get HPV? The virus is spread through body fluids and skin to skin contact. Just like the Hepatitis B virus, if someone does not feel sick and does not know they have the virus, they can pass the virus to someone else without even knowing it.
Vaccination Can Prevent Infection from These Two Viruses! A vaccine is usually made up from the outer coat of a specific virus or bacteria and when put in a vaccine, it will protect you against the disease. The vaccine does not cause the actual disease. Your body is able to use the vaccine to provide protection. If you come into contact with the Hepatitis B or HPV viruses later in life, your body will have this protection to prevent infection from the viruses.
How vaccines are made.. Virus Copy of outer coat of Virus Copy of outer coat goes into vaccine Virus DNA Outer Coat of Virus Vaccine!
What else Should I know? Both the Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are given through a series of three separate injections, in separate needles. Your first vaccine will be given in the, your second will be before or after break, and your third will be in the. That s three separate times you get to hang out with your school nurse! What could be better than that?
On the day of Vaccination Be sure to eat breakfast and get a good night s sleep. If possible, wear short sleeves. Ask your vaccinating nurse or school nurse any questions you might have. Try not to worry, you will be surprised how quickly it is over!
After Vaccination Both vaccines are given in a deltoid muscle (located just below your shoulder). Make sure to keep moving your arm to prevent it from getting sore. Some students may feel some soreness, or see some swelling or redness where the vaccine was given. Most students do not have any side effects at all!
If your arm is still sore after vaccination, try putting some ice on the vaccination site. If you feel tired or achy later in the day, or feel like you may have a fever, make sure you tell an adult. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Everyone reacts differently to vaccinations, so if you don t feel like yourself, the safest thing to do is to tell an adult.
Who Will Be Vaccinated? Hepatitis B vaccine is available to all grade 5 students in Alberta. HPV vaccine is available to all grade 5 girls in Alberta. Some students may already have been vaccinated with one or both of these vaccines, so not everyone will be receiving the same number of vaccinations.
Consent! A consent form will be sent home to your parents with very important information about the vaccines. It is up to your parents to decide whether or not you will be vaccinated. It is important that you bring your signed consent form back to school by the deadline given by your school nurse. No Exceptions!
A few things you may notice on vaccination day: Not everyone will be getting the same vaccines. If you were born in a different country or even a different province you may need other vaccines. Someone may be away on vaccination day. If this happens to you, the school nurse will come back to the school on another day to make sure you get vaccinated.
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