The Public Health Agency of Canada is calling on parents to keep their children’s vaccinations up to date, warning that falling immunization rates could carry serious health and financial consequences for families and the broader health system.Blacklock's Reporter says in a newly revised edition of the Canadian Immunization Guide, the agency emphasized that vaccines remain one of the most cost-effective public health measures, protecting against illnesses that once killed or hospitalized thousands of Canadian children.“Vaccine preventable diseases result in significant costs to individuals who fall ill, caregivers, the health system and society,” the guide said. It noted that costs include absenteeism from school and work, hospital stays, visits to doctors, and premature deaths..While most childhood vaccines — such as those for diphtheria, measles, polio, and rubella — have been safely used for decades, federal officials say pandemic-era skepticism has shaken public confidence. A June 1 survey found that while 88% of Canadians were generally in favour of traditional childhood vaccines, only 70% said their children had received all the recommended doses. Just 55% had given their children annual flu shots.Among parents who declined some or all vaccines, 24% cited safety concerns, 22% said they did not believe the vaccines were necessary, and 14% doubted their effectiveness..When it came to the flu shot, 35% of parents said they hesitated to vaccinate their children. The most common reasons were doubts about effectiveness (43%), fears of side effects (38%), and mistrust in vaccine information (19%).The agency said it recognizes lingering public distrust and is encouraging more transparent communication while stressing the long-term benefits of vaccination for both individual families and the country’s health care system.
