No other healthcare intervention in the last 50 years has saved the lives of more babies and children than immunization, says Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison.
“Immunization is recognized as the best defense against the spread of disease and the single most effective way of reducing the impacts of disease such as long-term illness, disability and death,” said Dr. Morrison. “As a result of immunization, vaccine preventable diseases have experienced a tremendous decrease in Canada and worldwide.”
In comparison to the pre-vaccine era, Canada has seen a 95 per cent reduction in many communicable diseases such as German measles, red measles and tetanus.
Other diseases such as polio have been practically eliminated and smallpox has been eliminated. Within the past decade, effective vaccines have become available to prevent meningococcal and pneumococcal disease, chickenpox and to reduce the effect of human papilloma virus infection.
“Immunization protects individuals and communities by preventing the spread of disease,” said Dr. Morrison. “While many people see immunization as only important for children, adults have specific immunization needs as well. Fully immunized adults protect children who have not yet completed the full series of childhood immunizations.”
Prince Edward Island maintains a strong publicly funded immunization program for children and students which is delivered by Public Health Nursing of Health PEI. Public Health Nursing also provides vaccines to adults including occupational groups and persons at increased risk of particular diseases. The goal of the PEI Immunization Program is to provide safe and effective vaccines to protect the population against vaccine preventable diseases.
Declining immunization rates in a population can lead to a return of diseases such as mumps, measles and whooping cough which were previously controlled.
“Immunization is a major cornerstone of public health practice and is one of the most beneficial and cost effective means of preventing disease that has ever been used in health care,” says Minister of Health and Wellness, Doug Currie. “I encourage all Islanders to protect our children, and each other, by getting vaccinated appropriately.”
Immunization schedules listing the age or age range when each vaccine or series of shots is recommended can be found through the Chief Public Health Office at www.gov.pe.ca/health.