Building healthy habits: Immunization awareness

Please consider the information below to inform and empower your own health and medical decisions. The 4CMenB vaccine is not mandatory. Consider your current health status, risk factors, and in consultation with your health care provider – move forward in a way that best supports your individual and community health.

What is Meningitis B?

A bacterial infection that can spread from one person to another. 

How is Meningitis B contracted?

Occurs through direct contact with secretions of the nose or mouth of someone who is currently experiencing the infection. This can include close face-to-face contact, kissing, sneezing and sharing drinks or food, eating utensils, cigarettes, makeup, or musical instruments. This list is not exhaustive and other forms of close contact with such secretions can increase risk to contracting meningitis B.

Meningitis B is not contracted by being in the same room with someone who is experiencing the infection (does not spread through air or casual contact).

Who can get Meningitis B?

While anyone can get Meningitis B, a person’s risk factor depends on age, medical condition, medications, and environment

• More information about Meningitis B risk factors

University and college students are encouraged to be aware and consider preventative measures for Meningitis B as a result of commonly shared areas and living arrangements, with behaviors and activities that result in sharing personal items. 

What are the symptoms of Meningitis B?

Similar to flu like symptoms. 

• Sudden onset of high fever
• Severe headache
• Vomiting 
• Nausea
• Rash
• Sensitivity to light
• Sleepiness
• Confusion 
• Stiff neck

How to prevent Meningitis B?

• In collaboration with your health care provider, keep up to date with routine vaccinations. 
  • The Meningitis B vaccine (4CMenB) is recommended for individuals aged 2 months to 25 years with an accompanying medical risk. 
• Maintain healthy habits including adequate sleep, nutrition, and regular movement. 
• Engage in efforts to reduce contact with other’s nose and mouth secretions (saliva, spit)
• Practice good hand hygiene and coughing and sneezing etiquette 

For more information on Meningitis B immunization schedule
For more information on routine immunizations in Manitoba
For more information on routine immunization scheduled for those who have not been previously immunize

Access and Coverage of the Meningitis B Vaccine:

Coverage

The Meningitis B vaccine is free of charge to anyone with a Manitoba Health card between the ages of 2 months and 25 years, who meet the eligibility criteria.

For those without a Manitoba Health card, or those who don’t meet eligibility criteria for coverage, the cost is $130.00/dose.

• MISHP does not cover vaccinations
• UMSU Health and Dental covers 80% of up to $150/year for prescription vaccinations/immunizations 

For more information on immunization eligibility within Manitoba or the 4CMenB vaccine
For more information on the 4CMenB vaccine 

Access

Consult with your primary health care provider on whether the 4CMenB may be recommended for you. 

If you do not have a health care provider and would like to connect with one within Manitoba, please review the following resources:

1. University of Manitoba, University Health Services: 204-474-8411
2. Manitoba, Family Doctor Finder: 204-768-7111

What is the treatment for Meningitis B?

Early identification of Meningitis B is important. If you are noticing symptoms consult with your health care provider or present to the nearest emergency room.

Antibiotics, rest, fluids, and/or pain medicine may be explored.

Please consider the information below to inform and empower your own health and medical decisions. The vaccine is not mandatory. Consider your current health status, risk factors, and in consultation with your health care provider – move forward in a way that best supports your individual and community health.

What is Monkeypox?

A viral disease caused by Monkeypox virus. It has two variants – Claude I and Claude II.

Who can get Monkeypox?

While anyone can get Monkeypox, you’re considered to be at high risk of mpox if you:

• are a man who has sex with men and you:
  • have more than 1 partner or are in a relationship where at least 1 of the partners has other sexual partners
  • have had a confirmed sexually transmitted infection in the past year, or
  • engage in sexual contact in sex-on-premises venues
• have a sex partner who meets the criteria above
• are a sex worker

How is Monkeypox contracted?

• Occurs through direct contact (direct contact with lesions on the skin or mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth))
• Contact with an infected person's body fluids such as blood, saliva, and semen (can include sexual contact)
• Through respiratory particles (such as from talking, breathing, coughing, or sneezing – usually requires prolonged (hours) face to face contact)
• From an infected pregnant person to their developing fetus through the placenta
• Contact with wildlife (scratches, bites)

Symptoms of Monkeypox

Symptoms usually develop 7-10 days after being exposed to the virus. Flu like symptoms for 1-4 days, skin rash following fever for 1-3 days, recovery 2-4 weeks

• Headache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Back pain
• Skin rash, blisters (typically found on the face, palms of hands, and soles of feet)
• Muscle aches 
• Exhaustion

How to prevent Monkeypox

You can get tested based on symptoms and risk factors (recent travel, suspected exposure).

Access and Coverage of the Monkeypox Vaccine

Health Canada authorized the Imvamune® vaccine for immunization against Mpox.

The vaccine is authorized for adults 18 years of age and older at high risk of exposure. The Imvamune® vaccine is recommended as a 2-dose primary series to people at high risk of mpox and can be provided before or after exposure (before infection occurs).

NACI also recommends offering the vaccine to people:

• following high-risk exposure to a probable or confirmed case of mpox
• within a setting where transmission is happening

The Imvamune vaccine is free of charge to anyone who may be considered high risk to exposure -with or without a Manitoba Health card.

For further information about the eligibility of the Imvamune vaccine, visit the Manitoba Health webpage.

For more information on the Monkeypox vaccine schedule
For more information on routine immunizations in Manitoba
For more information on routine immunizations for those who have not been previously immunized

Consult with your primary health care provider on whether the Imvamune vaccine may be recommended for you.

If you do not have a health care provider and would like to connect with one within Manitoba, please review the following resources:

1. University of Manitoba, University Health Services: 204-474-8411
2. Manitoba, Family Doctor Finder: 204-768-7111

What is the treatment for Monkeypox

May include wound care, pain management, and treating complications such as bacterial infections.

Most people recover from Monkeypox after a few weeks. However, in rare cases, people can become very sick. If you are noticing symptoms consult with your health care provider or call Health Links at 1-888-315-9257 to discuss next steps.

If you believe you may have Monkeypox, it is recommended to isolate at home, avoid skin to skin contact (including sexual contact) with other people, wash your hands / objects you have touched, and contact your healthcare provider or local public health authority for next steps.

For more information on Monkeypox, visit Manitoba Health or the Government of Canada website.