Childhood immunizations in the region are declining and currently below Interior Health targets.
According to 2023 year-end data from the provincial government, 56.3 per cent of seven-year-olds were immunized, which is well below the IH target of 70 per cent necessary to prevent disease transmission. The rate for two-year-olds is 68.5 per cent, significantly below the 90 per cent target for that age group.
In the East Kootenay Health Service Delivery Area, those rates are 71.9 per cent for the two-year-old age group, and 64.7 per cent for seven-year-olds.
“Interior Health is taking steps to help busy families get their children’s immunizations up to date,” said IH Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Martin Lavoie, in a news release. “Vaccines give infants and children the best protection from more than a dozen diseases that can be severe, can lead to serious complications, and in some cases can even be fatal.”
To that end, extra clinics for immunization services will be introduced at community health centres; Kindergarten clinics are being piloted in some schools; and mobile immunization services will bring these services to select rural communities. Additionally, students in Grade 10 - 12 can drop into clinics at school to get caught up on routine immunizations they have missed.
“Many people have questions – that is understandable. As health professionals we are here to help everyone understand potential side effects, vaccine effectiveness, and the consequences of not being vaccinated, and help families make informed decisions,” said IH Medical Health Officer Dr. Fatemeh Sabet.
Routine childhood immunizations are free of charge; appointments can be booked at a Child Health Clinic at their local public health centre. If a child has missed a vaccine, public health staff can help get them caught up.
Interior Health is also launching a new campaign, touting the importance of childhood immunizations and the dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Interior Health says current immunization rates are “concerning” because these diseases still occur and can spread easily. The public health organization points to measles cases in four states in America, where the virus was effectively eliminated in 2000 following a robust vaccination campaign.
Over the last six months, B.C. has seen cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in multiple areas of the Interior region, and last summer there was a pertussis outbreak in southern Manitoba.
To view the schedules for infant, child and teen immunizations, and to see the list of vaccines included in routine immunizations, visit Immunize BC.