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Mention the words ” childhood vaccine” and you’re bound to stir up discussion from those in favour and those against vaccinations.
But a newly released survey from Statistics Canada finds parents are still vaccinating their children in high numbers.
The 2013 Childhood National Immunization Coverage Survey collected information about children’s immunizations from parents or guardians.
“Routine immunizations are publicly funded across Canada and are free for families,” a news release with the report said. “According to public health recommendations, children should receive certain routine immunizations by age two.”
The survey found 91 per cent of children received protection against polio, while about 77 per cent received the required number of shots for diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus. Around 73 per cent had been vaccinated against chicken pox.
The survey also collected data on the immunization coverage for human papilloma virus (HPV) for girls at ages 12 to 14 and 17.
“Nationally, the coverage for HPV immunizations was approximately 72 per cent for girls aged 12 to 14 and 64 per cent for 17-year-old girls in 2013,” the release said.
The survey gathered information on parent’s or guardian’s attitudes towards vaccinations. A small proportion of children (1.5 per cent) had never received immunizations of any kind.
“For those children who did receive at least one immunization, most of their parents or guardians agreed that childhood vaccines are important for their child’s health (97 per cent), that childhood vaccines are effective (97 per cent) and that childhood vaccines are safe (95 per cent),” the release said.
The target population for the survey is boys and girls aged two, seven and 17 years old, and girls aged 12-14 years old on March 1, 2013, living in the 10 provinces and three territories, not including First Nations. Data was collected through phone interviews, surveys and collection of immunization records.
Immunization rates for two-year-old children in Canada, 2013:
Diphtheria 77.4
Pertussis (whooping cough) 77.0
Tetanus 77.0
Polio (IPV) 91.1
Haemophilus flu type b (Hib) 72.7
Measles 89.6
Mumps 89.2
Rubella 89.2
Varicella (chicken pox) 73.1
Meningococcal infection 88.6
Pneumococcal infection 79.3
Agencies/Canadajournal
