National Immunization Awareness Week in Canada — an annual event held in the last week of April to highlight and recognize the importance of immunization — runs from April 24 to 30 this year.
This National Immunization Awareness Week, Immunize Canada encourages everyone in Canada to get up to date on the vaccines they need. This year’s theme is “Let’s catch up with confidence.”
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore issued the following statement recognizing National Immunization Awareness Week:
“At the beginning of National Immunization Awareness Week, I want to take the opportunity to thank all Ontarians for taking part in the largest immunization campaign in our province’s history, and the health care workers and front-line partners that help make it happen. The COVID-19 immunization campaign continues to illustrate the importance and effectiveness of vaccination.
I am encouraging everyone to stay up to date on their immunizations, especially children who may not be caught up because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your child’s routine immunizations not only defend against serious diseases that can be spread in schools and throughout communities but guard against unnecessary medical visits and hospitalizations. Importantly, they also help protect those who cannot protect themselves, especially younger children and those who can’t be immunized.
To help ensure children are up to date, local immunization catch-up initiatives and school-based immunization clinics are occurring. If your child has missed routine immunizations or if you are unsure about which immunizations they have received, talk to your health care provider or public health unit.
With most routine vaccinations requiring more than one dose, now is the time to start thinking about preparing your children for the new school year by staying up to date on your child’s immunizations.
Thank you for continuing to protect yourself, your family and your community by staying up to date with your immunizations.”
Cody’s happy because he got his free #HPV #vaccine at the #grade7 school clinic, saving future Cody roughly $600. He’s now protected against 9 strains of HPV that can cause neck, mouth, penile & anal cancers. Call us to book an appt for your gr. 7-12 child: 1-800-563-2808#NIAW pic.twitter.com/i1aVTNW7Iz
— North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (@NBPSDHealthUnit) April 24, 2023
Due to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Immunize Canada recognizes it was not easy to stay up to date on routine immunizations.
“In several places, routine immunization programs came to a grinding halt, and many people were unable to receive the vaccines they needed. This has not only put people behind in their routine immunizations but has also left the door open for a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and polio.
“As we continue to live in our ‘new normal,’ we are regaining the opportunity to catch up with friends and family, catch up on the hobbies we love, and catch up on the vaccines we missed. We want everyone to be able to catch up with confidence, knowing they are safe and protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.”
