Vaccines prevent diseases

50 years ago, many Canadian children suffered from serious, vaccine-preventable diseases-and died.

Vaccines have had a huge impact on the number of children affected per year.

Consider these examples of diseases you know:

As you can see, because most children today are immunized, that means that many of these diseases have almost disappeared - but not completely. These diseases can, and do come back. For example, there was an outbreak of measles in Toronto in 2008 and mumps in Nova Scotia in 2007.

• What would happen if we stopped immunizing?
• Why do we need vaccines if we have better hygiene and sanitation to help prevent disease in Canada?

Protection for the whole community

When you immunize your children, you protect other children and the whole community.

• Why can't I take a chance that my child won't get sick, as long as most other people are vaccinated?
• Why do we still need vaccines if the diseases they prevent have disappeared from our part of the world?

Remember, skipping immunization increases risks for everyone.

Immunization prevents 13 serious diseases

Immunization prevents your child from getting these 13 vaccine-preventable diseases. Nearly all of them are spread very easily from person to person, mostly through coughing and sneezing.

Protect your child's health by getting all immunizations on time.

1. Diphtheria can cause serious breathing problems for your child. Diphtheria can damage your child's heart and nervous system and cause paralysis. More > >
    
2. Tetanus is a disease that most people think of if they step on a rusty nail. Tetanus is also found in dirt, manure and human stool. If tetanus gets into your baby's open cut, it can cause muscle spasms, convulsions and death. More > >
    
3. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) can turn into severe coughing ("whooping" sound), choking and vomiting. It can last for weeks or months, and may even cause death. It is most dangerous when your baby is under six months old. More > >
    
4. Polio attacks your child's nervous system and can paralyze muscles or even cause death. More > >
    
5. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) can cause meningitis—an infection of the lining around your child's spinal cord and brain. It can also cause pneumonia, swelling in the back of the throat, deafness and death. More > >
    
6. Measles can cause a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes for your child that could last from 1-2 weeks. Measles can also cause pneumonia, convulsions, deafness, brain damage and death. More > >
    
7. Mumps can cause a fever, headache, and swollen, painful cheeks and neck. It could make your child deaf and cause meningitis. In rare cases, mumps can affect future ability to have children. More > >
    
8. Rubella (German measles) causes a fever and a rash, which usually lasts for less than a week. It is very serious for unborn babies. If a pregnant woman who has no protection against rubella comes in contact with this disease early in her pregnancy, she could have a miscarriage. After exposure to rubella, the baby could be born deaf, blind, or with heart or brain damage. Before you become pregnant, ask your doctor if you need a rubella shot. More > >
    
9. Varicella (Chickenpox) causes a low fever and an itchy rash of blisters that form scabs. In some children, chickenpox causes severe skin infections (like flesh-eating disease), scars, pneumonia, brain damage or death. More > >
    
10. Hepatitis B affects the liver and can sometimes cause liver cancer or other serious liver problems for your child. More > >
     
11. Pneumococcal disease can cause pneumococcal meningitis, pneumonia, ear and blood infections. It could make your child deaf or cause brain damage. More > >
     
12. Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis—an infection of the lining around your child's spinal cord and brain—or a blood infection. Children can die from meningitis. More > >
     
13. Influenza (The flu) is a common respiratory infection that begins in your child's nose and throat. Influenza can be serious—especially for infants and young children. If your child has influenza complications, she may have difficulty breathing or might develop pneumonia. More > >