Free Meningitis B vaccine clinics for UPEI students starting September 2

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre is offering free meningococcal B (Men-B) vaccinations to undergraduate students at the start of the school year at various locations on the campus.

Students must provide their PEI health card or proof of international insurance, and their student ID when they get their vaccine. There is no cost to them for the vaccine.

Students can book an appointment at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre for their vaccination by emailing healthcentre@upei.ca. They can also get their vaccine at the following:

• a walk-in clinic, September 2, 8:30 am to noon, UPEI Health and Wellness Centre
• a pop-up vaccination clinic, September 4, 9 am to 3 pm, UPEI Health and Wellness Centre lobby and board room, as part of the Welcome Week Panther Prowl Bingo event
• a pop-up vaccination clinic, September 8, 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre

Information about meningococcal B and the vaccine will be available to students at the Back-2-School Fair on September 3 in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.

For full protection, students must receive two doses administered at a minimum of 28 days apart. Future clinics will be held, and information about dates and times will be shared with the campus community.

The vaccine provides protection against a type of meningococcal disease that targets the lining of the brain and spinal cord and is potentially life-threatening. With a high mortality rate (10 per cent), meningococcal disease is a medical emergency. It can cause death within days if prompt antibiotic treatment is delayed. The infection typically triggers symptoms such as severe headache, sudden high fever, skin rashes, vomiting, and a stiff neck. Among survivors, 10 to 20 per cent have long-term complications, which may include hearing loss, neurologic disabilities, and digit or limb amputations.

The disease spreads between people through saliva and respiratory fluids. Engaging in activities with infected people, such as sharing drinks and vapes, or kissing, may put people at risk. The risk is higher for young adults up to the age of 25 years and those who are living in a dormitory or crowded space as the bacterium spreads quickly through large groups.

Vaccination against Men-B is highly recommended to protect students from this vaccine-preventable disease. To learn more about Men-B, visit Meningococcal vaccine: Canadian Immunization Guide - Canada.ca.