Cypress Health Region 2

As Immunization Awareness Week continues, the Cypress Health Region is reminding parents how important it is to get their children vaccinated.

They advise it`s one of the best ways to protect yourself, your family, and those around you from a variety of infectious diseases.

In the last 50 years, immunizations have saved more lives in Canada than any other health intervention. Immunizations are safe and effective.

"Many times we don't realize how fortunate we are to have safe vaccines available that protect us from diseases that can cause significant effects on health and even death," said Dr. David Torr, Consulting Medical Health Officer for the Cypress Health Region. "Much as these diseases and their effects have been greatly reduced in immunized individuals, those who are not immunized or effectively immunized remain at great risk of contracting and getting complications from them. I therefore urge and remind the community to get their immunizations and keep up to date with them."

In the Cypress Health Region, immunizations are primarily provided by Public Health Nurses (PHNs) according to guidelines established by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.

Routine vaccinations protect individuals against various diseases including diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, haemophilis influenza b, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, meningitis, hepatitis b, and human papilloma virus. Immunizations have drastically reduced the life-threatening risks of these diseases in Canada.

In the Cypress Health Region, immunization coverage rates among 2 year old children are 77.9% for pertussis, 77.0% for measles, and 90.8% for meningococcal (meningitis). Seven year old coverage rates are 83.7%, 93.8%, and 95.0% respectively.

"While we have a strong percentage of our child population immunized, this leaves percentages of children who aren't protected and are therefore at-risk of complications from immunizable diseases that can cause severe complications and even death. Adults too tend to forget that they need boosters and should check periodically with public health or their physician to ensure they are up to date,¨ added Dr. Torr.

Despite their effectiveness, immunizations encounter myths that circulate among the public each year. It is important to know the facts about immunizations:

-The measles-mumps-rubella vaccine does not cause autism. Evidence based reviews have rejected any associations between the MMR vaccine and autism spectrum disorders in children. -Multiple injections do not overwhelm ones immune system. Our bodies come into contact with millions of germs every day resulting in our immune systems working continuously to protect us. With this activity exposure to ingredients found in vaccines are easily handled by our immune systems. -Vaccines do not contain harmful traces of preservatives or residual products, nor do they contain cells from aborted fetuses. -Vaccines do not contain harmful traces of additives or adjuvants. (source: immunize.ca)

Whether you are a parent, young adult, or senior please talk to your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or local public health office about being up-to-date on your immunizations. The Cypress Health Region¡¦s website, www.cypresshealth.ca/publichealth, contains a wealth of information on immunizations. Visitors to this page can view immunization programs for school age children and adults, learn how to obtain copies of their immunization history, and learn of other information from reputable websites in Canada.