What diseases are protected by vaccines?

Immunization is one of the best ways of protecting your child against many common childhood diseases – diseases that can cause serious complications and sometimes even death.

Because most children are immunized, many common vaccine preventable diseases have almost disappeared – but not completely. If children stop being immunized, these diseases will become more common again. When you immunize your child, you help to keep these diseases under control – for good.

In Canada, vaccines to prevent the following diseases are considered routine, and are given free of charge to children and youth in all provinces and territories:

• Diphtheria
• Influenza (flu)
• Tetanus (lockjaw)
• Pertussis (whooping cough);
• Polio;
• Rubella (German measles);
• Measles (red measles);
• Mumps;
• Hepatitis B;
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib
• Varicella (Chicken Pox);
• Pneumococcal;
• Meningococcal; and
• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

These vaccines are given by needle "shots”. Some vaccines are given alone and others in combination, according to specific schedules that usually start when your baby is two months old.

For example, you can protect your child from 3 diseases by giving them 1 easy shot called the MMR. It protects children against measles, mumps, and rubella.

Although vaccines for multiple diseases are given in one shot wherever possible, two or three immunization are generally needed for most vaccines to develop immunity.

The number and timing of immunizations vary slightly from one province to another. Always check with your health care provider and/or consult the link below for your province’s routine schedule, to make sure your child is properly protected.

For more information on vaccines available to you and your family visit the following links:

http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/immunization/VaccinationChild.htm

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/ai-an.htm

www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/ptimprog-progimpt/table-1-eng.php

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/HealthAZ/Immunizations.aspx?articleID=6710&categoryID=AZ7b/a>