Immunization

The live attenuated influenza virus vaccine (LAIV), Flumist®, administered by intranasal spray, is approved for people aged 2-59 years. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended in its statement for the 2011-2012 season that, given its efficacy and immunogenicity, LAIV should be used preferentially for healthy children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years. NACI also indicates that LAIV can be used for children with chronic diseases, other than immune…

In December 2008, a new pneumococcal vaccine (PCV-10) was licensed in Canada. An older vaccine (PCV-7) is used in Québec for the routine vaccination of children. The ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS)) asked the Comité d'immunisation du Québec (Québec Immunization Committee (CIQ)) to rapidly give an opinion on the pertinence of this vaccine and answer the three following questions:

In October 2007, the Comité sur l'immunisation du Québec (CIQ) tabled a report entitled “Prévention par la vaccination des maladies attribuables aux virus du papillome humain au Québec” [Prevention of diseases caused by human papillomaviruses through vaccination]. At the time that report was being drafted, only one vaccine – Gardasil – was authorized for sale in Canada. The report did not directly compare the Gardasil and Cervarix vaccines.

Given the likelihood that the Cervarix…

The problem of the prevention of diseases attributable to the human papilloma virus (virus du papillome humain) (HPV) extends beyond the field of infectious diseases traditionally prevented by vaccination. This is why the CIQ has followed a different procedure for the preparation of this report by working with a large group of experts, notably from gynaecologists involved with the fight against cancer and from sexually transmitted infectious diseases areas.

The synthesis of facts was…

In Canada, the first 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was licenced in 2001. The manufacturer's recommendation is to administer three doses at an early age for primary immunization and a booster dose during the second year (Wyeth-Ayerst Canada Inc. 2001). The recommendation of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NAIC) is to give 3 doses of vaccines at the same time as the other vaccines provided in the schedule at the ages of 2, 4 and 6 months, and the booster dose…