EDMONTON — Alberta is offering to immunize all teenagers in Grade 9 against meningitis starting Tuesday.
The province says it will cost $2 million to provide the vaccine to up to 40,000 students through school-based clinics.
The vaccine will protect against four different strains of meningitis and is to become part of annual immunizations offered to teens.
Meningitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the tissues around the brain or spinal cord causing symptoms that include a high fever, headache, loss of appetite and severe neck pain.
The risk of spreading the bacteria that cause the illness increases during adolescence because teens tend to share food, drinks, lipstick, lip balm, drinking straws, cigarettes and water bottles.
The bacteria are spread through saliva and are present in the nose and throat.