Immunizations are Important, Especially in 2024
You need to feel your best to do your best, so planning ahead to take care of your health while you are at school is an important way you can make sure to thrive at Laurier. There are lots of ways that the Student Wellness Centre can help you take care of your physical and mental health. In the 2024/2025 school year, helping you make sure your immunizations are up-to-date is one of the most important.
ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS
Routine immunizations are an important part of staying healthy. It’s a good idea to make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date before you move to campus. While you are still at home, find your yellow immunization card, or contact your family doctor or your local public health unit to find out if you have completed Ontario’s routine immunization schedule. It’s a great idea to get any outstanding vaccinations before you arrive at Laurier, but if you still aren't sure when you get here, give us a call.
Once you’re here, if you haven’t had all of your routine vaccines or you’re not sure, you can drop by the SWC or make an appointment to discuss it with a nurse. It’s never too late to make sure you are up-to-date! Our nurses can help you determine what vaccinations you need, and a doctor can order bloodwork to check your immunity if you can’t find your records.
This year, it is especially important to make sure that you are vaccinated for measles and meningitis B because of a recent increase in cases of both of these illnesses.
MEASLES
Measles is on the rise in Ontario. There have been several measles cases reported in the province this year, and there have been large outbreaks in Europe and the United Sates.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area, and it can have serious, sometimes fatal consequences.
Symptoms begin 7 to 18 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, and small white bumps in the mouth followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body. The rash looks different depending on your skin tone. An infected person is contagious from 4 days before the rash appears until 4 days after the rash appears.
If you think you have been exposed to the measles virus, or if you are having symptoms, call us or call your family doctor. Make sure you stay home if you are ill, and wear a mask if you have to go out to get medical care.
MENINGITIS B
Meningitis B is a rare but serious bacterial infection that can cause swelling of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord or infection of the blood. There have been several cases reported in Canada in recent years among university students.
Meningitis B is contagious. It spreads through close and direct contact with mucus and saliva, but it does not spread through air. This includes contact like kissing, sneezing, and sharing items like food, cutlery, vapes, and drinks. It is rare, but there is an increased risk among postsecondary students who live in residence and shared housing.
Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting, sensitivity to light, and a bright red rash (the spots don’t fade when pressed). The infection progresses rapidly, and you can become ill very quickly after you first experience symptoms, and meningitis B can be fatal.
The best way to protect yourself from meningitis B is to get vaccinated, but the vaccine is not included in the routine immunization schedule in Ontario (i.e. themeningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) shot that Ontario students receive in grade 7.)
VACCINES IN THE STUDENT WELLNESS CENTRE
If you are not sure if you have been vaccinated against measles, if you are interested in the meningitis B vaccine, or if you have questions or concerns about any vaccinations, drop by or call us to talk to the nurse.
Please note that the meningitis B vaccine is not publicly funded in Ontario, but most extended health and dental plans cover at least part of the cost. Check the undergraduate Students' Union health and dental plan or the GSA health plan to find out your coverage.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
We referred to the following sources to create this article:
Government of Canada (2023). Invasive Meningococcal Disease.
Government of Canada (2024). Measles Symptoms and Treatment.
Nova Scotia Health (2023). Meningococcal Disease - Frequently Asked Questions.