D. Concluding Remarks

This final report represents a vision for moving forward with a national strategy on immunization. It represents a new way of doing business in Canada with regard to one of our most important and proven public health program areas.

The five components of the strategy, outlined in the body of this report, are as follows: national goals and objectives; immunization program planning; vaccine safety; vaccine procurement; and immunization registry network. The supporting activities, which cut across and support the five strategy components, include immunization research; public and professional education; approaches to special populations; and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance.

If fully implemented, it is anticipated that the strategy will improve our ability to face the new challenges ahead and will be associated with the following important benefits:

• Reduction in vaccine-preventable diseases
• Improved access to timely vaccine programs
• Improved efficiencies
• Better vaccine safety monitoring and response
• Enhanced affordability of vaccines
• Improved security of vaccine supply
• Public confidence in vaccines/response to growing anti-immunization concerns

References

1. Division of Immunization, Bureau of Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada. Canadian national report on immunization, 1996. Can Commun Dis Rep1997; 23S4: Preface.
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3. Division of Immunization, Bureau of Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada. Canadian national report on immunization, 1996. Can Commun Dis Rep 1997; 23S4: Section 1: Immunization in Canada.
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