You can help reduce the spread of childhood diseases

As summer winds down, it’s important for parents to have their children get up to date on their immunizations. VCH Medical Health Officers advise that all children, starting at age four, get vaccinated for tetanus, diphtheria, polio, chicken pox (varicella), and pertussis (whooping cough). Help protect the children in our region by reminding your clients/patients who have young children.

“When I was a nurse at B.C. Children’s Hospital, I worked in the respiratory isolation area and saw many infants with pertussis and its devastating effects. Babies were struggling to breathe and so ill, all because of an infection that is preventable with vaccine,” said Nicole Lisle, Registered Nurse and VCH Immunization and Communicable Disease Coordinator. “I urge all parents to ensure their young children get vaccinated as recommended. When your child gets vaccinated, you help protect others as well.”

“While most of these infections are now rare in B.C. because of routine childhood vaccination programs, the whooping cough outbreak in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley is a reminder that they are still around and can spread quickly among those who are unprotected,” said Dr. Meena Dawar, Medical Health Officer. “Vaccines are the best way to protect children against these serious and sometimes fatal diseases.”

Let parents know that vaccinations are free. Refer them to VCH’s kindergarten vaccination webpage.