All About
Immunization

How Vaccines Work
Vaccine Safety
Make an Informed Choice
Vaccine Effectiveness
Vaccine Myths, Facts, and FAQ's
What Vaccines can my Child Have?
Thimerosal

How Vaccines Work

The purpose or goal of vaccination is creating immunity. The Immune system helps to protect the body against infection. It identifies germs such as bacteria and viruses and removes them from the body.

There are many different types of vaccines that protect against many different types of infection. A vaccine stimulates the immune system to make antibodies and lymphocytes, which are the body’s main defence against infection, without the risk of illness or death.

Lymphocytes are very important and have a number of different jobs. They help the immune system identify germs such as bacteria and viruses and also stimulate the creation of antibodies. Once they have found a germ that should not be in the body they create ‘ memory’ cells. These memory cells can live for a very long time, sometimes forever. Memory cells let the immune system recognize germs it has seen before so if the germ ever enters the body again it can be destroyed before causing any harm.

Not all memory cells can live forever. This is why we need to have booster shots. Booster shots remind the immune system how to fight against the germs.

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Vaccine Safety

Immunization is an important part of keeping our children healthy. Before we had vaccines to protect our children it was common for many, many people to become very ill with diseases, leaving them with scars, deformities, or even causing death. We can now prevent these diseases from hurting our children and family members by providing them with vaccines.

Vaccines are one of the safest tools in modern medicine and serious side effects are very rare. Normal side effects may include low-grade fever and redness and/or soreness at the injection site.

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Safety Checks are Top Priority

Health Canada takes vaccine testing very seriously. The Bureau of Biologics and Radiopharmaceuticals (BOBR) is a division of Health Canada that regulates all vaccines used in Canada. Vaccines MUST meet the BORB’s testing requirements for production, safety, and strength.

Vaccine monitoring systems are in place in Canada to monitor severe side effects related to vaccines. The Immunization Monitoring Program ACTive (IMPACT) and Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) monitor adverse vaccine events in Canada.

These groups carefully review information on specific vaccines and make recommendations on any action that should be taken, for example recommending that further research be completed before licensing the vaccine or changes about licensing the vaccine.

All vaccines are reviewed by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) who make final recommendations.

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Make an Informed Choice

Canada has many systems in place to make sure the vaccines we give our children are safe. Risks linked with routine childhood vaccines occur much less often and are far less severe than the risks linked with the actual disease we are trying to prevent. The health of our children is very important and as a parent you play a central role in maintaining your child’s health.

We want you to be able to make an informed choice about immunizing your child. There are many ways to find this information. It is important that the information you receive is providing both risks and benefits. Make sure all of your questions are answered.

Vaccine information can be found with great ease on the internet. It may not be accurate or correct and can include scary stories and false information. Click here to find out how to search for accurate information on the internet. Please contact Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 with any questions or concerns you have about vaccines.

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Vaccine Effectiveness

Many parents often ask the question, "Do vaccines really work?" The answer is yes! Vaccines have proven to be safe and effective tools for preventing many life threatening diseases.

(Adapted from the Canadian Immunization Guide 7th Edition)

Some people think that because we are living in cleaner environments, practice better hygiene, and have more advanced health care, we are no longer in need of vaccinations. While it is definitely true that good sanitation and hygiene behaviours play a large role in supporting good health, we still need vaccines to keep diseases under control. Countries with good immunization programs continue to see a decline in vaccine preventable diseases, while countries with poor or declining immunization programs see an increase in disease rates and in the number of deaths from these diseases.

For example:

• In 2000, Ireland saw more than 1200 cases of Measles, compared with only 148 in the year before due to a drop in immunization rates.
• In 1994, Russia had 5000 deaths due to diphtheria after their organized immunization program was stopped. In previous years Russia (like Canada) had only a few cases of diphtheria each year and no deaths.
• In 1999, a large outbreak of Rubella (German Measles) occurred in Nebraska. All 83 cases in this outbreak were adults who had not been immunized.

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Vaccine Myths and Facts

MYTH: Vaccinations are no longer necessary as the diseases that we vaccinate for have already disappeared!

FACT:

• Some diseases remain so common that without the vaccine the disease is almost guaranteed to occur (i.e. Chickenpox)
• Some diseases may not be common but still exist in our country (i.e. Measles, Mumps and Pertussis). Vaccines can protect us and protect those around us from spreading these illnesses
• Some diseases that do not exist in our country are common in other countries ( Polio, Diphtheria). Because world travel is now so common, travellers or immigrants may bring disease into the country.
• Some diseases are caused by bacteria that live in the environment ( Tetanus). They only way to protect yourself is by vaccination.

MYTH : Vaccines are bad for my body and too many vaccines may harm my immune system.

FACT :

• Vaccines strengthen the immune system and protect us from some serious diseases
• Vaccines are not strong enough to overload the immune systems memory
• Scientists believe the body can recognize and respond to about 10,000 different organisms at one time
• Everyday we are exposed to many types of germs while eating, drinking, playing, and working

 
MYTH : I am too old to be vaccinated. Vaccines are only for children

FACT :

• Some vaccines require the use of a booster to increase the protection that the vaccine provides.
• Getting a booster dose ensures that our immune system is at it’s best fighting ability to protect our bodies from illness and disease
• No matter what your age, vaccinations such as Tetanus and Diphtheria should be kept up to date for best protection
• Some vaccinations are just as important for older people as they are for younger people such as Pneumococcal and some protect us from yearly illnesses such as Influenza
• You are NEVER too old to be vaccinated

 
MYTH : If I live a healthy lifestyle I won’t need to receive vaccines to be protected from diseases

FACT :

• A healthy lifestyle is always a good choice. Staying healthy will increase the body’s ability to fight infection.
• Most illnesses can still make you very sick even if you are very healthy.
• Vaccinations strengthen your immune system by safely introducing an antigen to the body. The only other way for the body to recognise the antigen is if the body is exposed to natural infection which can cause illness or even death.

 
MYTH : Vaccinations are not really effective. Many people still get sick after being vaccinated.

FACT :

• Vaccines are VERY effective.
• Countries with successful immunization programs had a decrease in preventable illnesses.
• Countries where immunization programs failed saw a rise in disease rates and death.
• No vaccine is 100% effective.

 
MYTH : Vaccines can cause autism and seizures

FACT :

• There is no link between autism and vaccinations. Autism usually shows up in the first 18 months of life and this is also a time period when many vaccines are given. Many studies have been completed and no link has been found between vaccines and autism
• Vaccines can cause fevers in some children that may lead to seizures. These are called ‘Febrile Seizures’ and usually occur in children whose parents or siblings have experienced them. A fever from any source can trigger a febrile seizure in about 3% of children. The number of children who experience febrile seizures after vaccination is very low. Febrile seizures do not cause brain damage.

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What vaccines can my child have?

All children in Ontario are provided with the opportunity to receive vaccinations.
A publicly funded vaccine is a vaccination that is paid for by the government of Ontario.
The publicly funded routine vaccine schedule includes the following vaccines:
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis, Haemophilus Influenzae b (Hib), Hepatitis B, Influenza (Flu), Chickenpox (Varicella), Pneumococcal Conjugate, and Meningococcal C Conjugate.

Only some children are eligible for the following vaccines:
Chickenpox (Varicella)

• Children born on or after September 1 2003
• Five year old children who have not had the chickenpox disease
• High-risk vulnerable persons of all ages

Pneumococcal Conjugate (Prevnar)

• Routine infant immunization (starting at 2 months) for all children born on or after January 1 2004
• High Risk children under 59 months of age Meningococcal C Conjugate
• Provided routine for one year old children born on or after September 1 2003
• 12 year old children as of January 1 2005
• 15-19 year old children as of January 1 2005
• All high risk people of all ages and those in close contact with those having Meningococcal disease

                       
Children who do not meet the eligibility criteria may still purchase the vaccine as before.

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Thimerosal

Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative that is used to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in vaccine vials. It is used for vials that contain many doses of vaccine. Thimerosal can also be used in the vaccine manufacturing process which can leave trace amounts of thimerosal in the final product.

Vaccines that contain thimerosal include Influenza and Hepatitis B but in very small amounts.

There are two types of mercury; methylmercury and ethylmercury.

Methylmercury is found in the environment through weathering of rocks, burning of coal, and volcanic eruptions. It makes its way through the food chain in fish, animals, and humans. In high levels it can be toxic to people.

Ethylmercury is the kind found in thimerosal. Studies suggest that it is broken down and passes through the body very quickly before it can do any harm – unlike methylmercury. Studies have also shown it does not accumulate in the body, again suggesting minimal harm.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has reviewed the current scientific proof on the use of vaccines containing thimerosal and concluded that there is no legitimate safety reason to avoid the use of thimerosal-containing vaccines. Scientific evidence has not shown a relationship between thimerosal in vaccines and autism or other neurodevelopmental diseases.

Further resources can be found at the following site:

http://www.immunize.cpha.ca/en/publications-resources/contents.aspx

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