A public health advisory was issued Friday by the Nunavut Department of Health, notifying the public of an increase in respiratory infections, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The ministry announces the restart of its vaccination program with palivizumab to protect babies from RSV.
Le VRS is a contagious infection that attacks the respiratory tract. Vaccination will be offered to premature children, born at 35 weeks or less, aged six months or less.
It will also be offered to children under 12 months with chronic lung disease of prematurity or significant congenital heart disease who require supplemental oxygen or medical therapy.
Vaccination will also be offered to children under 24 months of age who have chronic lung disease if they require continued supplemental oxygen or have been weaned from supplemental oxygen over the past three months.
Vaccines will also be offered for children under 24 months with immunodeficiency, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, upper airway obstruction or chronic lung disease other than the latter, only if they are on oxygen at home, if they have been hospitalized for a long time for a serious lung disease or if they are severely immunocompromised.
The department explains that flu vaccines for Nunavummiut aged six months and older are still offered at health centers or public health units.
COVID-19 vaccines for Nunavummiut aged five and older are also available in all Nunavut communities.
The ministry recalls the gestures to reduce the risk of respiratory infections, namely keeping surfaces clean, wearing a mask, maintaining physical distance, staying at home when sick, washing your hands often, coughing and sneezing into your elbow.