Vaccinating Children

A measles outbreak of more than 114 people in the US, and ten in Quebec, that officials suspect began when an infected person from outside the US visited Disneyland in December, has renewed debate between those who support vaccinations and a small but vocal “anti-vaccination” movement. 

Currently three provinces, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Manitoba require children to be fully vaccinated before school admission. Last year in the Fraser Valley there were 433 reported cases of measles.

Measles is a highly contagious disease and can be serious in young children. To protect those most vulnerable, Doctors of BC encourages parents to ensure their children get all childhood vaccinations. This is particularly important for children who are traveling abroad.

The Province newspaper recently reported that more than 30 per cent of toddlers in BC have not had the recommended immunizations by age two. The story also includes a province-wide accounting by the BC Centre for Disease Control of childhood vaccinations between 2009 – 2013.

As physicians, our primary concern is patient safety. While vaccines are known to sometimes cause minor, temporary side effects like soreness and fever, vaccinations have proven to be a safe and effective means of protecting ourselves and our families from infectious disease. Even though some parts of the world are still experiencing widespread infection and disease, because of childhood vaccinations over the decades, many vaccine-preventable diseases have been eradicated in Canada.  

Please protect your kids by making sure they receive all their childhood vaccinations.