Children behind in their shots, says Montreal vaccination campaign
Montreal children are behind on their vaccines, according to the city's public health department, and a newly-launched campaign is trying to change that.
The Sante Montreal website now includes a vaccination guide aimed at the parents of toddlers and young children.
It contains information on booking appointments and ensuring children are up-to-date based on age, as well as facts on whooping cough, measles and polio.
In a press release, the city noted that just 80 to 85 per cent of five-year-old children in Montreal are vaccinated against measles, while the target rate is 95 per cent.
LISTEN ON CJAD 800 RADIO: Children are falling behind in vaccines for diseases that were eradicated years ago
"Even before the pandemic the vaccination coverage was below the target but it was near 90 per cent so what we're seeing now are levels that are below what they were before the pandemic…and it is a concern," said Dr. Benoit Corriveau a doctor at the Montreal Public Health Department.
That means the Montreal population is at risk in the event of an outbreak, he said, as he recalled recent outbreaks that served as a wake-up call for many.
In 2011, more than 700 people were affected by a measles outbreak in Quebec, at a time when vaccination rates were higher than they are now, and there are cases of whooping cough every year.
For parents who have naturally never experienced a mumps, polio or measles epidemic it may be difficult to understand how serious the dangerous the diseases can be, he acknowledged.
For example, "measles is highly contagious so when there are outbreaks a lot of people are affected especially in schools," he explained.
"It can be a rash but also fever and it can lead to severe complications, pneumonia, meningitis and can also lead to death in approximately one out of three thousand children," said Corriveau.
The new guide also dispels common myths about vaccinations, such as the misconceptions about certain ingredients or the belief that vaccines are linked to autism.
"Vaccines are free, safe and effective in preventing serious complications from these infections," the release continues.
The new city is also encouraging parents to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 and influenza, especially as pediatric hospital emergency rooms buckle beneath a surge in respiratory infections.
The main virus at the heart of the strain on hospitals has been Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common respiratory virus that can cause serious illness in children, particularly infants. There is currently no vaccine for RSV.
In recent weeks however, about half of all children admitted to the Montreal Children's Hospital are admitted due to complications from influenza, according to infectious diseases specialist, Dr. Earl Rubin.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.