Make sure childhood immunizations are up-to-date
EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services (AHS) is reminding Albertans with children to ensure their kids are up-to-date with routine immunizations.
Alberta offers all children routine immunizations free of charge. By following the routine immunization schedule, your child will be protected against vaccine-preventable diseases at the most effective ages and stages.
Routine immunizations are more important than ever. Cases of pertussis have increased in Alberta in the last few months and have been identified in all AHS zones. Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable bacterial infection. It can impact people of all ages; however, infants one year and younger are at greatest risk of serious complications.
There are several ways to book an appointment for a routine immunization for your child:
Use the Find Healthcare search tool to find an AHS public health centre close to you. Choose the facility type and select “public health centre.”
Use the Find Community Health Centres search tool.
Call Health Link at 811 to find a centre nearest you.
Talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Visit Find a Doctor | Alberta Health Services.
AHS also offers routine immunizations in schools for children in Grades 6 and 9, in addition to offering immunization to Grade 1 students who are delayed for their routine immunizations. A consent form is sent home with an information sheet for each vaccine recommended for the student. No immunizations will be given in school without consent from a parent or legal guardian.
There are steps you and your child can take to make immunization appointments more comfortable before, during and after. Visit Commitment to Comfort | Alberta Health Services for more information.
To find out which immunizations are right for your child, check with your family physician or Health Link at 811 or a public health nurse. Visit ahs.ca/immunize to learn more about routine immunizations.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
For media inquiries, contact:
Vanessa Gomez
AHS Communications
780-914-2425