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By North Vancouver Travel Clinic (address: 302-1150 Marine Drive, North Vancouver ) Wondering what vaccines you need based on your age group or if any vaccines require an update? Here’s a quick summary of the main vaccines for adults, assuming you have completed your routine childhood vaccinations. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at info@nvtc.ca  or call us at 604-971-5163. We would be more than happy to assist you! Vaccine Age Group Frequency of Vaccination Tetanus Shot Tetanus is transmitted through wounds or cuts that come into contact with contaminated objects, such as rusty nails, dirt, or animal bites All adults Every 10 years after high school (following routine childhood vaccination) HPV Human Papillomavirus is transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact, including sexual activity. It can lead to various health issues, including genital warts and certain cancers, such as cervical, throat, and anal cancer Age > 19-45 years of age if not provided as part of routine childhood vaccinations in school Lifetime immunity once the series are completed, usually a series of 3 doses Shingles
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox in childhood Adult >50 years of age or older
Adults 18 years of age or older who are medically immunocompromised Administered as two doses, 2 to 6 months apart; no booster required Pneumonia
Pneumonia is usually transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes Adults 65 years of age or older
Adults 19 to 64 years of age with certain medical conditions, such as immunocompromised states or diabetes Usually administered as a single dose RSV
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus ) is transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes Adults 50 years of age or older Given as one single dose Schedule your vaccination at North Vancouver Travel Clinic, conveniently located at 1150 Marine Drive.

By North Vancouver Travel Clinic (address: 302-1150 Marine Drive, North Vancouver ) HPV Vaccinations Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) protects against: Gardasil 9 covers HPV strains 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 and is indicated to protect against: ● Cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers caused by strains 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. ● Genital warts caused by strains 6 and 11. ● Precancerous lesions caused by strains 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 Who should get the vaccine: In British Columbia, the HPV vaccine is provided to children as part of their grade 6 routine immunization program. The series starts between the ages of 9 and 14 years for all children. However, routine and catch-up vaccinations are recommended up to age 45 for females and males. In addition to Grade 6 students, the vaccine is indicated and provided free in BC to the following individuals: Those who do NOT commence a series in grade 6 are eligible to initiate a series prior to age 19 (for males, born in 2006 or later), but not thereafter. A series commenced prior to age 19 may be completed with publicly funded HPV vaccine prior to the 26th birthday. HIV positive individuals 9-26 years of age (inclusive) who have not received a completed series of HPV vaccine Males 9-26 years of age (inclusive) at the time of series commencement who are: Men who have sex with men (including those who are not yet sextually active and are questioning their sexual orientation) Street involved Males 9-18 years of age (inclusive) in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development Males in youth custody services centers Transgender individuals 9-26 years of age (inclusive) The vaccine is also recommended but NOT provided free in BC for: ● Women 19-45 years of age ● Males 9-26 years of age (Who are not indicated above) ● Males 27 years of age and older who are men who have sex with men Administration: Immunocompetent individuals 9-14 years of age (inclusive): 2 doses given as 0.5 mL intramuscularly, separated by at least 6 months Those initiating immunization prior to their 15th birthday should be immunized using a 2-dose series If the interval in a 2-dose schedule is less than 5 months (150 days), a 3rd dose should be given at least 24 weeks after the 1st dose and 12 weeks after the 2nd dose. Immunocompromised individuals 9-14 years of age (inclusive): 3 doses given as 0.5 mL intramuscularly at 0, 2, and 6 months Individuals 15 years of age and older: 3 doses given as 0.5 mL intramuscularly at 0, 2, and 6 months HPV Vaccine Tolerability: Most common adverse events are: ● Injection site pain (82% to 92%) ● Swelling (24% to 44%) ● Redness (24% to 48%) More than 95% of reactions are mild to moderate and resolve within a few days. Fainting may happen and is more common among adolescents and younger adults. Key Points to Remember: Since sexual touching can spread the virus, early vaccination at a young age is important to ensure immunity Avoid use during pregnancy , due to lack of data, and if a woman becomes pregnant during the vaccine series, delay future injections until after delivery Vaccination is most effective when given prior to becoming sexually active in males and females under the age of 26 years In older women up to 45 years of age, vaccination may be about 47% effective for HPV infection, genital warts, and precancerous lesions regardless of prior HPV exposure or about 88% effective in those without prior HPV exposure Not sure if you are eligible for publicly-funded Gardasil-9 or wondering if you are private insurance pay for it? Call us at 604-971-5163 and find out! Reference: Communicable Disease Control Manual June 2019 Chapter 2: Immunization Part 4 - Biological Products By North Vancouver Travel Clinic ( Phone: 604.971.5163 )

North Vancouver Travel Clinic . What is shingles? Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The infection usually present itself as a painful skin rash with blisters on one side of the body. How do people get shingles? Who is at risk? 1 out of every 3 Canadians will develop shingles in their lifetime. Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox may develop shingles, since the virus remains dormant in their body and can be reactivated years later. Direct contact with fluid from active shingles may cause the virus to spread to someone who had never had chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine. Shingles may occur at any age, but the risk of shingles increases as you age (Most patients are 50 or older). People with weakened immune system due to medical conditions or medications also have greater risk of developing shingles. What are the symptoms of shingles? Shingles cause a painful rash to develop on one side of the face or body. Before the rash appears, patients may experience pain, itching, or tingling in the affected area. The rash often occurs in one strip along with small blisters, which will scab over in 1 to 2 weeks. The entire healing process usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Other symptoms of shingles include fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach. What are the complications of shingles? The severity of shingles and its complications increase with age. The most common complication is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Approximately 10% of all shingles patients will experience PHN, which involve severe pain in affected body areas, even after the rash clears up. The pain can be debilitating and may last from a few weeks to many years. Shingles may also lead to complications such as scarring, secondary infections, and vision loss (if the infection involved the eye). What is the best prevention against shingles? Vaccination is the best protection against shingles. The most recommended vaccine is called Shingrix . It is a privately funded vaccine that is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and long-term nerve pain. The vaccine consists of 2 inactive doses given 2 to 6 month apart. Since shingles can be recurrent, it is recommended to get Shingrix even if you have experienced shingles in the past. What is the treatment for shingles? Antiviral medication may be prescribed to reduce the severity and duration of an active shingles infection. Please Contact your family doctor as soon as possible if you experience symptoms of shingles. For more information on the new Shingles vaccine, refer to Shingrix.ca To schedule your Shingles vaccination appointment at North Vancouver Travel Clinic, kindly click on the link provided below: