Immunizations
The Issue
All Canadian children and youth should have publicly-funded access to all vaccines recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS).
Background
Immunization is one of the major public health success stories of the last century. Universal coverage of paediatric vaccines offers all children and youth protection against many potentially life-threatening diseases.
While the disparity in vaccine access among provinces and territories has narrowed in recent years, harmonization of schedules across the country still remains elusive.
What is a National Immunization Strategy?
In 2003, the federal budget provided $45 million over five years to assist in the continued pursuit of a National Immunization Strategy (NIS) intended to be a national blueprint for ensuring vaccine access, supply, safety and efficacy.
The NIS has five components:
- National goals and recommendations for immunization programs.
- Immunization program planning.
- Vaccine safety.
- Vaccine supply.
- An immunization registry network.
Cross-cutting issues include immunization research, professional and public education, special populations (immigrants, refugees, travelers and Aboriginal peoples) and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance.
The NIS is an opportunity for federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions to work together to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of immunization programs in Canada. Provinces and territories continue to be responsible for planning, funding and delivering immunization programs in their own jurisdictions and to contribute to the shared activities that support a national immunization strategy.
Recent action and progress
- In 2003, the federal government announced $45 million over five years ($10 million annually) toward a National Immunization Strategy.
- In 2003, the federal government also announced $32 million over five years for a national on-reserve immunization strategy, as part of a $1.3-billion program for First Nations and Inuit health.
- In 2004, the federal government announced a further $300 million over three years to allow the provinces and territories to add new recommended vaccines to their publicly funded programs.
- In 2007, the federal government created a human papillomavirus trust fund.
- The federal government provides $10 million in annual funding to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of immunization programs in Canada.
In addition to the slate of vaccines that have been part of the routine immunization schedule for a number of years, the CPS and NACI also recommend that children be immunized against varicella (chickenpox), adolescent pertussis (whooping cough), certain forms of meningitis (meningococcocal and pneumococcal infections), human papillomavirus (HPV) and influenza.
Coverage of these six most recently recommended vaccines is not yet universal across the country. While most provinces and territories offer all vaccines, not all are administering them according to the schedule recommended by the CPS and NACI.
In the case of HPV, some provinces (Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) have started to offer the vaccine as part of a school program. Others (New Brunswick, Quebec and Saskatchewan) have announced programs for the fall of 2009.
What still needs to be done
The CPS is calling on the federal government to:
- Provide sustained funding and support for a comprehensive National Immunization Strategy.
- Provide sustained funding to the provinces and territories to allow them to offer new recommended vaccines at no cost to the public.
- Develop a national vaccine registry to track numbers of children and youth who are receiving vaccines.
- Standardize immunization schedule across Canada.
- Ensure the involvement of non-governmental and professional organizations, such as the CPS, with expertise in vaccinations.
What you can do
- Educate parents about the importance and safety of immunizations.
Resources
For more information
To get involved contact Jill Greenwell, Senior Coordinator Executive and Government Affairs at 613-526-9397 ext. 240 or by e-mail at jillg@cps.ca.
Last updated: May 2008
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