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menBaware, inspired by the BforKai initiative and Kai Matthews, was launched in September 2022 to inform young Canadians about the harsh realities of Meningitis B and its detrimental repercussions.

Post-secondary students are a vulnerable sector of individuals and are five times more likely to contract Meningitis B². Most of these young adults were previously unprotected as the vaccinations were only made available in 2014 and were not initially covered by provincial programs for the general public.

In April 2023, PEI implemented significant improvements to its vaccine program, specifically targeting students attending post-secondary schools. As a result of these changes, students living in residence in PEI or out-of-province now have access to the Men-B vaccine, and the provincial government fully funds the vaccination cost.

Similarly, the Province of Nova Scotia has recently taken proactive steps to prioritize the safety of its young population. On May 25th, 2023, a momentous announcement was made stating that the Meningitis B vaccine will NOW BE FULLY FUNDED & AVAILABLE for Nova Scotia youth aged 25 and under who are:

• Entering post-secondary studies and will be in a congregate living setting (such as a dormitory or other residence) operated by a post-secondary institution for the first time.
• First-time military recruits who will be living in a congregate setting such as a military barrack.

With these measures in place, both PEI and Nova Scotia aim to ensure more young individuals, especially those at higher risk of exposure, can now benefit from the Men B vaccine and be better protected against the disease.

Nova Scotia residents can book appointments at novascotia.ca/meningococcal-vaccines.

menBaware is still working to connect with Canadians and encouraging conversations with their healthcare providers to discuss how they can become protected against Meningitis B.