The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
There is a temporary national shortage (for approximately two months) of a childhood vaccine called Pentacel. This vaccine protects children against five diseases: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, Haemophilus influenza b and polio. Pentacel is used to vaccinate children at the ages of two, four, six and 18 months. At the present time, Manitoba has an adequate Pentacel supply for approximately one month. Quadracel vaccine is used to boost immunity to children of four to six years of age. Quadracel is equivalent to Pentacel but without the Haemophilus influenza b component. When the Pentacel vaccine in stock is used up, Quadracel vaccine plus Haemophilus influenza b (Act-HIB) vaccine will be used. The combination of these two approved vaccines is equivalent to the Pentacel vaccine. To conserve Quadracel vaccine, the Quadracel booster for children between the ages of four and six years will be delayed. A later appointment will need to be set up through the immunization provider for the child to receive the preschool booster. All health care providers who immunize children are being required to suspend the use of Quadracel vaccine for the four to six preschool booster vaccination and to defer these immunizations until an adequate supply of Pentacel has been restored. Effective immediately, providers will not be able to order Quadracel vaccine for the age four to six preschool booster until further notice. This will allow for conservation of Quadracel to help meet the needs of Manitobans during the Pentacel vaccine shortage. Children will not be at risk by briefly delaying the four to six year olds preschool Quadracel booster. The majority of these children will have been immunized at age two, four, six and 18 months. The age four to six preschool booster vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) is still available in adequate supply. Parents are encouraged to take their children to their vaccine provider for the age four to six booster for the MMR vaccine. Manitoba Health is working with staff in other provinces, territories and the federal government to provide solutions to this temporary shortage. For further information, contact Health Links at 788-8200 in Winnipeg or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.
