Medical Advisory
Medical Advisory: Updated Meningococcal Immunization Schedule and Program Changes
This memo is to inform you of changes to Ontario’s publicly funded meningococcal immunization schedule and program.
Men-C-C (monovalent conjugate meningococcal serogroup C) vaccines will no longer be available in Canada once current inventory is depleted. As a result, Ontario is transitioning to the use of Men-C-ACYW (quadrivalent conjugate meningococcal serogroups A, C, Y and W) vaccine for routine childhood immunization.
Routine Immunization Schedule Update
Under the updated publicly funded immunization program, routine Men-C-ACYW vaccine should be administered at:
- 12 months of age; and
- When the child reaches Grade 7
Once Health Care Providers’ Men-C-C inventory is depleted, Men-C-ACYW should be used for all routine 12-month doses, and catch-up immunization.
Children who have already received a dose of Men-C-C vaccine at 12 months of age or older do not require revaccination with Men-C-ACYW as a result of this program change. These children will remain eligible for the routine Grade 7 dose of Men-C-ACYW. Please refer to the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule for information on the High Risk Vaccination program, and vaccine catch-up schedules.
Use During the Transition Period
Any remaining Men-C-C inventory you have on hand should continue to be used prior to transitioning to Men-C-ACYW for routine immunization at 12 months of age.
Health care providers should:
- Continue to administer remaining Men-C-C vaccine inventory until supply is depleted or expired.
- Transition to Men-C-ACYW for routine immunization at 12 months of age, and for catch-up immunization as applicable, once the Men-C-C inventory is depleted.
For additional information and relevant vaccine resources, including Q&As for Health Care Providers: Meningococcal Vaccine Transition, please visit Hamilton Public Health’s Health Care Provider resources at www.hamilton.ca/HCP.
To order vaccine, please use the routine vaccine order form available at www.hamilton.ca/Vaccine-HealthCareProfessionals.
If you have any questions, please contact Hamilton Public Health at [email protected].
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