This disease is spiking in an Ontario city. But there's a vaccine if you can afford it

Can you put a price on protecting your children froma potentially deadly meningitis-causing bacterial infection?

Right now, it's about $320 per child, unless you happen to have private insurance,fora two-dose vaccinerecommended by publichealth officials in Kingston, Ont. one of a handful of regions in Canadaseeinga spike in local casesof invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).

IMD is a rare butlife-threatening bacterial infection that can infect the brain and spinal cord, causing meningitis, and the bloodstream, causing septicemia.

Up to 10 per cent of people infected with IMD die, according to Health Canada, and complications include deafness, limb amputations and permanent brain damage. There are almost200 casesin Canada per year on average.

Most IMD cases are caused by five types of bacteria: A, B, C, Y and W-135, though in Canada, group B causes most illness, according to thehealth department.

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health (KFL&A) is recommending the meningococcal Bvaccinefor people under age 25. It's nota routine vaccine likemeningococcalC, typically given to babies at age one, or meningococcal ACYW-135, administered in Grade 7 in Ontario, said the health unit.

Currently,no provinces or territories cover the cost of themeningococcal B vaccine for all children, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Crystal Harris, 45, plans to vaccinate her two teenagers after getting letters from their schools in Kingston last week recommending the shots. She says she was surprised when she realized how much it would cost,and was grateful she has private insurance that coversit. She also knows she's one of the lucky ones.

"Icannot imagine having to paythat money to keep your children safe and healthy," Harris told CBC News. "It's simply wrong."

People with certain high-riskmedical conditions are eligible for a free vaccine, as is anyone who comes in contact with a case. But at thispoint, the Kingstoncommunity at large isn't eligible forpublicly fundedvaccination, said Dr. Piotr Oglaza, medical officer of health at KFL&A Public Health.

The cost for the general populationabout $160 per dose, with two doses required is "absolutely" a barrier, especially for someone who doesn't haveprivate insurance,Oglaza said.

"I fully understand and appreciate that dilemma and that struggle that individuals may face.

"But really, the best protection againstthis is the vaccine."

Rare but risky

Last Thursday, KFL&A Public Healthwarned of an increase in invasive meningococcal disease type Bactivity in the region three cases in recent months, including one pediatric case, according toOglaza.Its last case was in 2013, he said.

Kingston isn't the only region seeing an increase. Lastmonth, health officialsin the Eastern Townships of Quebec called for vigilanceafter confirming twocases ofinvasive meningococcalinfection in the region, one of which resulted ina death. The specific type of case isn't yet known.

Manitoba public health officials also recently warnedthat the province had seen 11 casesand one deathbetween Dec. 21 andFeb. 29. The serogroup of one of those cases was identified as type B.

Manitobatypically has six cases of IMD reported in a year.

While IMD casesin Canada are rare, outbreaks do occur across the country, says a 2023 report from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

Most cases came from children under age five and adolescents aged 15 to 19, the report said.

"Outbreaks of meningococcal B disease are usually small and localized, and are primarily seen among adolescents and young adults, especially those living in dormitory or other group settings," said Devon Greyson, an assistant professor at the School of Population and Public Healthat the University of BritishColumbia.

University campuses inAtlantic Canada have had outbreaksin the last few years, including student deaths.

In May 2023, NovaScotia beganoffering the meningococcal B vaccine for free to people aged25 and underliving in group settings, such asuniversity residences.Then in January,Prince Edward Island expanded its free vaccine eligibility to all post-secondary students.

'Multiple tiers of privilege'

There are "multiple tiers of privilege going on" in terms of vaccine accessibility, between the out-of-pocket cost, the potential for coverage by private insurance,and the fact that if you don't have a family doctor, you may not even be having these conversations,said Ian Culbert, the executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association.

"For low-income people,it simply isn't anoption."

Funded vaccine programs have much higher uptake rates than unfunded ones, he noted.But even the hesitancy for funded vaccines such as the measles shot isincreasing post-pandemic, he added.

A new poll released last week bytheAngus Reid Institutefound that agrowing number of Canadian parents say they are opposed to vaccinating their children.Among the 1,626 survey respondents, 17 per cent of parents of minors said they were "really against" vaccinating their kids, compared with about four per cent in 2019.

Given that, there'seven less incentive for provincial and territorial governments to fund some of thevaccines for diseases that are less common,Culbertsaid, even though the outcome of catching IMD can be much more serious than mumps or measles.

"It's this risk-benefitthat asindividuals we have to think about, but that the governments need to think about, as well."

WATCH | How to protect yourself against measles:

How to protect yourself against measles

4 months ago

Duration 7:50

The potential community spread of measles in several cities and an alarming rise in cases abroad has health officials warning Canadians to make sure their vaccinations are up-to-date. The National asks the experts to break down how we got here and what you can do to protect yourself from one of the world's most contagious viruses.