Beginning November 2020, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine will be provided free to people who are pregnant in every pregnancy. Vaccination is recommended at 27-32 weeks of gestation but it may be given from 13 weeks up to the time of delivery. The aim of this new program is to protect newborn infants in BC from severe outcomes related to pertussis infection. It is anticipated that Tdap vaccine will be provided mainly by prenatal care providers including family doctors and midwives, but can also be provided by specialty prenatal care service providers and by community-based pharmacists, or at the local health unit at adult immunization clinics.
Vaccine Status Reporting Regulation Information for Health Care Providers - Q&A (Jan 2020)
At the direction of the B.C. Chief Nursing Officer Council a provincial decision support tool (DST) for the management of anaphylaxis, "Anaphylaxis: Initial Emergency Treatment by Nurses (Adult and Pediatric)" has been developed. The provincial DST was developed to ensure that the initial emergency management of anaphylaxis is consistent amongst all nurses across the province, in all settings. The provincial anaphylaxis DST is based upon the World Allergy Organization guidelines and has incorporated the most up-to-date evidence. The BC Immunization Manual, Part 3 - Management of Anaphylaxis in a Non-Hospital Setting has been revised to be consistent with the provincial DST.
Beginning May 2018 BC will begin transitioning to the use of pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5, RotaTeq®) in the infant rotavirus immunization program. The main difference with this product change is the immunization schedule, as the schedule for RotaTeq® is 3 doses, rather than 2 doses of Rotarix®. It is recommended that RotaTeq® be administered at 2, 4 and 6 months of age together with the other routine infant vaccines given at these ages.
