Children's Health Topics

Immunization

Immunization is a top priority for the Canadian Paediatric Society. The CPS Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee develops position statements on topical issues for clinicians. Many are adapted into public education materials to help health professionals counsel patients and families.

Resources for health care professionals

• First Shots, Best Shot: Childhood vaccines at work in Canada: A free PowerPoint presentation for health care professionals who promote immunization in their communities. Can be used as a learning tool for oneself, or to present to others.
• Position statements and Paediatric Infectious Disease Notes from the CPS Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee.
• Vaccine surveillance: IMPACT program
• The Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program has undertaken several studies related to immunization, such as congenital rubella syndrome and acute flaccid paralysis.
• Tips for making vaccinations as easy and pain-free as possible from HELPinKids.

Patient education: Resources for parents and caregivers

• Your Child’s Best Shot: A parent’s guide to vaccination, 3rd edition (2006)
• Getting Your Shots: Bilingual brochures for many of the recommended childhood vaccines, for use in doctors’ offices, clinics, public health settings, and anywhere parents need information about immunization. 
• Vaccination and your child: Covers the basics of childhood immunization in a single brochure.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine: Myths and facts: A tear-off pad that provides easy-to-understand information about the safety of this vaccine.
• Caring for Kids: Printable fact sheets for parents, including a Routine Immunization Schedule.
  

Advocacy

• The CPS advocates for a national harmonized immunization schedule.
  
• The CPS recommends rotavirus vaccination for all babies.
  
• Are We Doing Enough?: The CPS status report on public policy and child and youth health rates how governments are doing in preventing infectious diseases through immunization.

Conferences, CME, and events 

• Canadian Immunization Conference: Held every two years, in partnership with the Canadian Paediatric Society, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Public Health Association, and the Canadian Association for Immunization Research and Evaluation.
• Immunization Competencies Education Program (ICEP): A 2-day course based on the Immunization Competencies for Health Professionals, created by the Immunization Education Working Group of the Canadian Immunization Committee. The competencies reflect a national consensus on the education and training required by immunization providers.

External resources

• Guidelines from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization
• Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness and Promotion: Resources for health professionals and the public.
• Vaccine safety websites: Sites that meet criteria for good information practices established by the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety.
• It’s Time to Immunize: A website by the Public Health Agency of Canada for parents.

 
Last updated: April 2011