MONTREAL — Starting May 1, the shingles vaccine will be offered free to people aged 75 and older, Health Minister Christian Dubé’s office said in a news release Sunday.
The vaccine, aimed at preventing illness caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus, was already offered free to people aged 80 and over. It will now be provided free of charge to people aged 75 and over at local service points and pharmacies.
There are 27,000 cases of shingles in Quebec each year, as well as 600 hospitalizations and 10 deaths caused by the disease, according to the Ministry of Health.
“Increasing access to the shingles vaccine is part of the Health Plan’s priorities to strengthen prevention,” Minister Dube said in a press release.
“Each expansion of free vaccination eligibility is a step we are taking in the right direction to ensure the ideal health of our population and reduce the burden on the health and social services system,” the minister said. responsible for the elderly, Sonia Belanger.
Related Posts
Influenza epidemic: ARASS recorded 7 deaths
Which foods contain the most?
