National Immunization Awareness Week: Take Control of Your Health! Public Health Agency of Canada

By Dr. David Butler-Jones MD, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada

National Immunization Awareness Week takes place from April 24th to May 1st, serving as a reminder to take some time to review your family's immunization status and take the necessary steps to ensure that you and your loved ones are protected.

Last fall, the Government of Canada secured enough H1N1 flu virus vaccines to immunize every Canadian. What followed was the largest immunization campaign in our country’s history, with approximately 45 per cent of Canadians receiving the H1N1 vaccine. This momentum to protect ourselves against the threat of the H1N1 outbreak, or any flu virus, should not be lost, but rather built on as a long term strategy for positive health outcomes. The success of the H1N1 vaccination campaign illustrates the positive effects of immunization, which protect not only our own health, but also the health of our friends, our family and our community, against the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Immunization rates in Canada are high and occurrences of diseases such as polio, diphtheria, hepatitis, mumps and measles are low, however, the risk of exposure remains. Many of these diseases are still common in other parts of the world and can unknowingly be carried from country to country. The World Health Organization estimates that immunization saves 3 million lives each year worldwide and , proving immunization to be the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your family from these diseases.

Before the introduction of mass childhood vaccination programs, Canadian parents were living with the fear of their children catching crippling and often deadly childhood diseases such as polio, measles, Hib meningitis, and diphtheria. In the last century, vaccines have saved more lives than any other health measure,
and is one of the best tools we have to protect the health of our children and avoid large-scale disease outbreaks.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recently launched an immunization awareness campaign to increase immunization rates in children under the age of two. Parents of infant children up to two years of age can now easily access the information they need to make informed decisions about their child’s health. Parents can visit www.publichealth.gc.ca/immunization, where they will find important tools including provincial and territorial immunization schedules and factual information on vaccine safety. Additionally, “A Parent’s Guide to Immunization”, which provides information on the 13 serious diseases, such as rubella, mumps, whooping cough, influenza, and pneumococcal disease, that can be prevented by vaccinations can be downloaded from the website or by calling 1 800 O-Canada.

While routine childhood immunizations begin at two months of age, it’s important to remember that immunization is not just for children. Recommended immunizations should continue into adolescence and adulthood to provide ongoing protection throughout the lifecourse. Additionally, adults whose immunization schedule is up to date may require vaccines before travelling outside Canada and should consult with their physician when making travel plans.

National Immunization Awareness Week provides an opportunity for each and every one of us to play a part in maintaining Canada's strong immunization history and preserving good health for future generations.

For more information, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/.

Dr. David Butler-Jones is Canada's first Chief Public Health Officer and is head of the Public Health Agency of Canada.