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LChoy · 04-27-2009, 09:05 AM

HAS IMMUNIZATION MADE A DIFFERENCE?
April 25 to May 2, 2009 is National Immunization Awareness Week. This is a week dedicated to promoting immunization, one of public health’s most successful strategies. To help increase awareness of the benefits of immunization, you will receive a brief e-mail each day this week with general information about immunization. Should you have specific questions regarding you or your family’s immunization record, please contact your local public health office directly or call HealthLink Alberta at:
Calgary: 403-943-LINK (5465)
Edmonton: 780-408-LINK (5465)
Toll Free: 1-866-408-LINK (5465)
The Benefits of Vaccines
There is no doubt that over the past hundred years, improvements in living conditions such as clean water and proper sanitation have resulted in a decrease of infectious diseases. But it was not until vaccines became widely available that the rate of vaccine preventable diseases dropped dramatically1. Many children and young adults have never experienced an illness caused by tetanus, polio or even measles. In the last 50 years, immunization has saved more lives in Canada than any other health intervention.2 The chart below provides some examples of the dramatic effect immunization programs have had in Canada.

Average # of cases per year and related deaths in Canada

Disease & Before Vaccination: - Cases/Deaths + After Vaccination: Cases/Deaths

Diphtheria 12,000/1000
0-5/0

Tetanus 60-75/40-50
0-2/(No deaths since 1991)

Pertussis 30,000 – 50,000/50-100
3,000/1-5

Polio 2,000 cases in last epidemic(1959)/unknown deaths
0/0

Measles 300,000/300 deaths and 300 children with brain damage
Less than 20/0

Rubella 250,000 with 200 cases of congenital rubella syndrome/unknown amount of deaths
25/ 0-3 babies with congenital rubella syndrome born to unimmunized mothers

Hepatitis B 20,000/480-500
Less than 1,000 None reported

References:
1 Meyers, M.G., & Pineda, D. (2008). Vaccines – Victims of their Own Success: Why Do We Give Vaccines for Diseases We Don’t See? In i4ph, Do Vaccines Cause That (pp. 11). Galveston, Texas.
2 National Advisory Committee on Immunization. (2006). Canadian Immunization Guide (7th ed.). Ottawa, ON: Public Health Agency of Canada.
3 Gold, R. (2006). Your Child’s Best Shot (3rd ed.). Ottawa, ON: Canadian Paediatric Society.

04-27-2009, 09:05 AM	#129
LChoy First Line Centre Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Exp:	April 25 to May 2, 2009 is National Immunization Awareness Week. HAS IMMUNIZATION MADE A DIFFERENCE? April 25 to May 2, 2009 is National Immunization Awareness Week. This is a week dedicated to promoting immunization, one of public health’s most successful strategies. To help increase awareness of the benefits of immunization, you will receive a brief e-mail each day this week with general information about immunization. Should you have specific questions regarding you or your family’s immunization record, please contact your local public health office directly or call HealthLink Alberta at: Calgary: 403-943-LINK (5465) Edmonton: 780-408-LINK (5465) Toll Free: 1-866-408-LINK (5465) The Benefits of Vaccines There is no doubt that over the past hundred years, improvements in living conditions such as clean water and proper sanitation have resulted in a decrease of infectious diseases. But it was not until vaccines became widely available that the rate of vaccine preventable diseases dropped dramatically1. Many children and young adults have never experienced an illness caused by tetanus, polio or even measles. In the last 50 years, immunization has saved more lives in Canada than any other health intervention.2 The chart below provides some examples of the dramatic effect immunization programs have had in Canada. Average # of cases per year and related deaths in Canada Disease & Before Vaccination: - Cases/Deaths + After Vaccination: Cases/Deaths Diphtheria 12,000/1000 0-5/0 Tetanus 60-75/40-50 0-2/(No deaths since 1991) Pertussis 30,000 – 50,000/50-100 3,000/1-5 Polio 2,000 cases in last epidemic(1959)/unknown deaths 0/0 Measles 300,000/300 deaths and 300 children with brain damage Less than 20/0 Rubella 250,000 with 200 cases of congenital rubella syndrome/unknown amount of deaths 25/ 0-3 babies with congenital rubella syndrome born to unimmunized mothers Hepatitis B 20,000/480-500 Less than 1,000 None reported References: 1 Meyers, M.G., & Pineda, D. (2008). Vaccines – Victims of their Own Success: Why Do We Give Vaccines for Diseases We Don’t See? In i4ph, Do Vaccines Cause That (pp. 11). Galveston, Texas. 2 National Advisory Committee on Immunization. (2006). Canadian Immunization Guide (7th ed.). Ottawa, ON: Public Health Agency of Canada. 3 Gold, R. (2006). Your Child’s Best Shot (3rd ed.). Ottawa, ON: Canadian Paediatric Society. __________________ Last edited by LChoy; 04-27-2009 at 09:30 AM.