More free vaccines now available

News Release
Ont. Govt.

Beginning earlier this month, Ontario families began benefit ting from new free vaccines that will help keep our kids healthy and save parents money.
Premier Dalton McGuinty was at The Hospital for Sick Children where he spoke about two new free vaccines for infants and the expanded availability of two others.
Improvements to the province’s immunization program include:
A new oral vaccine to protect infants against rotavirus, which causes severe intestinal infections.
A second childhood dose of varicella vaccine to enhance protection against chickenpox.
A new combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine means children will get only one needle rather than two.
A lifetime dose of pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine for adults age 19 to 64, who often pass this highly-contagious disease to infants and children.
The new vaccines will provide better protection from serious infectious diseases and save Ontario families up to $350 per person. Since 2003, five new vaccines are now free -- saving families more than $1,400 per child.
As part of the National Immunization Strategy, the federal government committed funding to support new vaccine programs in Ontario including varicella, meningococcal and pneumococcal vaccines. Federal funding for these programs was cancelled in 2006. Since then, Ontario has stepped up to cover the costs of these vaccines to ensure kids and families are protected.
Expanding Ontario’s vaccines program is part of the government’s plan to provide better access to health care services while improving quality for patients.