BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE: Protecting Adolescents And Young Adults Against Meningococcal Disease

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an acute and serious communicable disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. Join Ajit Johal as he discusses the clinical impact, incidence, causes and risk factors associated with this vaccine-preventable disease. Ajit will review the meningococcal vaccine options, how they work, and what B.C. community pharmacists need to know to help close the immunization gap.

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Discuss the burden of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
2. Review the incidence and serogroup distribution of IMD, focusing on the adolescent and young adult population in Canada.
3. Explore the IMD “Immunization Gaps” that may be present in the adolescent and young adult population in Canada
4. Examine the safety, immunogenicity and development challenges of a vaccines indicated for active immunization to prevent IMD caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in individuals 10 through 25 years of age.

Ajit has been providing immunizations and clinical education since 2012. As a community pharmacist, he is an accessible provider of immunizations to patients in the community. In 2018, he started an organization called immunize.io, with a mission statement of "taking our best shot at immunizing the world". Through "immunize.io" he has worked with numerous organizations and communities to address “vaccine hesitancy” and improve access to vaccinations.  He champions community pharmacists as leaders of immunization services, in particular in the area of recommended but "unfunded" vaccines.  Ajit is also a clinical instructor for the University of British Columbia Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Program. At UBC he coordinates the elective course for UBC Pharmacy students in the area of travel health and immunizations.