York Region health professionals stress importance of vaccines

YorkRegion.com
April 28, 2014
By Chris Traber

York Region’s health professionals want to remind you that immunizations are safe and protect people of all ages from serious diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, mumps, rubella and meningitis.

In fact, vaccines have saved more lives and prevented more illnesses than any other medical discovery, preventing two to three-million deaths worldwide each year.

You can protect yourself and others from serious vaccine-preventable diseases by getting all of the Ontario’s recommended immunizations. By getting immunized, you are also protecting others who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, such as infants who are too young to be vaccinated and those whose bodies do not respond to vaccines.

Are you up-to-date?

Immunizations begin at two months of age to start protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases. Now it is even easier to keep track of vaccinations. Immunize Canada has created a free app for smart phones or mobile devices. The app lets you keep track of vaccinations for yourself and your family, receive automatic reminders to schedule routine vaccinations and receive timely and trusted information. You can access the app at immunize.ca/en/app.aspx.

York Region Community and Health Services provide no-cost immunizations at school-based immunization clinics for elementary and secondary school students. York also offers monthly evening immunization clinics at six locations offering vaccinations to school-aged children who need a mandatory vaccine or who missed a vaccine at a school immunization clinic.

The region also has community flu clinics in the fall for anyone older than six months who lives, works or attends school in York Region

Last year, York Region Community and Health Services administered more than 40,000 immunizations at these clinics. You may also get vaccinated by your health care provider, family doctor or at a medical walk-in clinic.

Check your immunization status today. Stay healthy. For more information on immunization or for community immunization clinic dates, times and locations, call York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653, or visit york.ca/immunizations.