You likely don’t remember the devastating effects that polio, measles, mumps, or rubella had on families. You can thank vaccines for that.
How Vaccines Work
Vaccines teach the immune system how to recognize and fight off specific disease-causing germs. Vaccines help protect against disease without the risk of getting sick first. They contain killed, weakened, or imitation versions of the disease-causing germ, or parts of the germ called antigens. Getting vaccinated lowers the chance of suffering severe illness, having to be admitted to the hospital, and spreading illness to others.
Vaccine Safety & Effectiveness
Canada has very strict guidelines for making vaccines, and Health Canada is responsible for doing tests on vaccines to make sure they are safe and effective. The Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) makes recommendations on the use of vaccines in Canada. NACI members are non-governmental experts in the fields of infectious diseases, immunization, immunology, epidemiology, and public health.
Vaccines Proven to Prevent Cancer
Every fall, nurses from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) visit local schools to provide important immunizations to grade 7 students. These vaccines are offered for free and protect against serious illness caused by Meningococcal bacteria and some cancers by the Hepatitis B (HB) virus and Human papillomavirus (HPV). For example, cancers affecting the liver, cervix, penis, mouth, and throat.
These vaccines, along with many others, are provided free of charge in Ontario. The WECHU strongly recommends getting immunized according to Ontario's Routine Immunization Schedule. To learn more visit www.wechu.org (https://www.wechu.org/your-health/immunization/immunization-requirements-school) .
Seasonal Immunizations
Every fall in Ontario, seasonal respiratory illnesses, such as influenza (flu) and COVID-19 circulate most frequently between November and April.
Seniors, people who are immunocompromised, and people with chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease are at an increased risk of experiencing serious illness. Getting vaccinated in the fall against flu and COVID-19 helps everyone – those that can’t be immunized, those at greater risk of complications (e.g., seniors and infants), and our community. Getting vaccinated is proven to reduce the demands on our health care system, which benefits everyone.
This fall, protect yourself, your family, and our community by getting vaccinated for flu and COVID-19. Speak to your health care provider, local pharmacist, or visit www.wechu.org (https://www.wechu.org/cv/vaccine-clinics#where-get-vax) for more information about getting vaccinated.