Getting back on track with childhood vaccinations

Op-ed by Dr. Charu Kaushic and Dr. Christine Chambers
Published in the Hill Times, January 24, 2025

Canada, we have a childhood vaccination problem.

Over the past three years, we have seen an alarming rise in preventable infections amongst children, including measles, pertussis (whooping cough), and respiratory viruses. Over the same period, we have also seen the triple threat of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) overwhelm Canadian pediatric hospitals, placing enormous strain on our health-care system.

The good news is that these infections are easily prevented by vaccination.

As stated by the Public Health Agency of Canada, routine vaccination completely eliminated polio in Canada, in addition to decreasing cases of measles, diphtheria, and rubella by over 99 per cent, mumps by 98 per cent, and whooping cough by 87 per cent. Without vaccination, children are more susceptible to contracting these illnesses, some of which can lead to severe complications or even death. 

Vaccines also protect our Canadian population as a whole. When a significant portion of the population is vaccinated, it helps prevent the spread of diseases and protects those who are unable to get vaccinated, such as infants or people with weakened immune systems. This collective protection, known as “herd immunity,” reduces the overall occurrence of diseases. So when you get your child vaccinated, you are not only protecting them, but also you are protecting everyone around them.

Importantly, vaccines are safe. They undergo extensive testing before being approved for use, and the benefits of immunization far outweigh the minimal risks associated with vaccines, which are generally mild, such as a sore arm or slight fever.

Conversely, the risks associated with not vaccinating your child are significant because some vaccine-preventable diseases can cause long-term health problems. For instance, measles can lead to encephalitis (brain swelling), and human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cancers later in life. Vaccines help prevent these long-term effects by stopping the disease in the first place.

As a bonus, vaccination strengthens Canada’s health care system by promoting public health and saving costs. Widespread vaccination reduces health care costs by preventing outbreaks and the need for medical treatments, hospitalizations, or long-term care for chronic conditions resulting from preventable diseases.

So why are childhood vaccination rates dropping in Canada? This is partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, some parents got off track with their children’s routine vaccination schedule, while some grew exhausted from the need for repeated COVID vaccines. As well, the widespread misinformation about COVID vaccines spilled into other vaccines that have proven their worth over decades. Of course, issues like wanting to avoid pain or fear of needles remain factors as well.

So what can parents do today to protect their children? First, check your kids’ vaccination records and get them up to date. If you are worried about safety, talk to your doctor or a public health professional about your concerns. Finally, if your child is worried about pain or has a fear of needles, don’t worry – these reactions are very common! Thankfully, there are effective pain management techniques, such as distraction, topical anesthetics, or behavioural strategies that can make vaccinations less stressful for both kids and parents.

To ensure that the next generation is strong and healthy, it is imperative that we immunize our children and youth today. Vaccines save lives and the next life saved could be a child you love.

Charu Kaushic and Christine Chambers are Scientific Directors respectively for the Institute of Infection and Immunity and the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

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