Free Shingles Vaccine for People Aged 75 and Over in Quebec: Minister of Health Announces Expansion of Program – May 1 Launch Date

by time news

2024-04-29 19:52:12

The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, as well as the minister responsible for Aîwas born and the Minister of Health, Sonia Bélanger, announced that the shingles vaccine will be free for people aged 75 and over from 1yes Next May. It was previously offered to people aged 80 and over. Expanding the shingles vaccination program will help reduce the number of shingles cases and their complications.

The vaccine will be made available to people aged 75 and over from 1 May at local service points (PSL) and pharmacies. It provides excellent long-term protection against the most common complications of this disease, especially post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), with pain that can last for several months, or hospitalization or death avoid

In Quebec, there are approximately 27,000 cases of shingles each year, 600 hospitalizations and 10 deaths from the disease, approximately 80% of which occur in people aged 80 years and older (MSS, 2023).

This is another step in the government’s approach to prevention, in line with the vision expressed in the Health Plan.

“One of the priorities of the Health Plan is to increase access to the shingles vaccine, that is to do more prevention. Our aim is to fully protect Quebecers from this disease, the complications of which can be very painful and, sometimes, fatal. I encourage all eligible people to take advantage of this opportunity to take advantage of the doses offered to reduce the risk of infection or complications. »

Christian Dubé, Minister of Health

“Each process is a step to expand free eligibility for a vaccine to ensure that we have a perfect population, but also to reduce the pressure on the social and health services network. I am even more happy because this program is mainly aimed at seniors and I invite them to take advantage of this opportunity. I thank all the teams as well as the health professionals who are mobilizing to help the elderly stay healthy. »

Sonia Bélanger, the minister responsible for Aîborn and Minister Delegate for Health

Highlights:

  • The government announced a budget of $125 million over 5 years to provide the population of Quebec with free access to vaccination against shingles.
  • Eligible individuals are invited to make an appointment beginning May 1 at Clic Santé or by phone at 1 877 644-4545.
  • Vaccination under this program includes two doses of the inactivated shingles vaccine that the user should receive within one year, depending on their health condition. Its effectiveness in preventing shingles is around 90%, across all age groups, with a long-term protection of at least 10 years.
  • Remember that the government had already announced the free shingles vaccine, in April 2023, to be integrated into the Quebec Immunization Program (PQI), for vulnerable people aged 80 years and older and for immune people of 18 years age and older.
  • The shingles vaccination program could be improved in the coming years to allow other age groups to benefit from it for free.
  • As with all immunization programs, this increase is the result of the recommendations of the Quebec Immunization Committee.

Related link:

To learn more about shingles vaccination, visit Quebec.ca.

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