Public Health Celebrates National Immunization Awareness Week April 26-May 3, 2014
Written by admin, April 28, 2014
April 28, 2014 – Remember to Let Public Health Know Each Time Your Child Is Vaccinated!
As National Immunization Awareness Week gets underway, Peterborough Public Health is reminding parents to contact them each time their child is vaccinated to ensure they meet the requirements for school attendance.
The Public Health maintains an immunization health record for all children living in Peterborough. This record helps to identify whether children are up to date with the vaccines required for school attendance under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
“Doctors do not report this information to us, so we rely on parents to inform us each time their child receives a vaccination,” said Edwina Dusome, Manager of Infectious Diseases. “Just a quick call ensures their child’s immunization records are up to date and will avoid parents receiving a school suspension notice down the road.”
During National Immunization Awareness Week (NIAW), Public Health is calling upon all residents to protect themselves and others by staying up to date with their immunizations. “Immunizations are safe, effective, and benefit people of all ages,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “They protect individuals and communities by preventing the spread of disease. As more people are immunized, the disease risk for everyone is reduced.”
It is now easier than ever for everyone to keep track of their immunizations thanks to a new app, ImmunizeCA, developed by Immunize Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
“The new ImmunizeCA app provides access to recommended immunization schedules, reliable, expert-approved, bilingual information about immunizations, as well as useful tools such as appointment reminders, and local outbreak alert notifications,” says Mrs. Dusome. The app is easy to use and ideal for people constantly on the go. It is available for secure, free download at the App Store, Google Play and Blackberry World. All can be accessed online at www.immunize.ca/app.
Ms. Dusome noted that the recent measles outbreaks in Canada are a powerful reminder that infectious diseases still pose a serious threat to our health. “Both infants and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to many vaccine-preventable diseases and their complications. For example, infants who are too young to be fully immunized can become seriously ill if they come in contact with an under-immunized adult who is sick with even a mild case of an illness like pertussis,” she said.
For more information on the vaccines required for school and the current immunization schedule, please visit www.pcchu.c and go to the section for “My Life & Health” and click on “Immunization”.
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For further information, please contact:
Karly Jessup
Public Health Nurse
(705) 743-1000, ext. 215