Canadian Paediatric Immunization Awareness
The Need
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Are Still a Real Threat
Diseases that vaccines can prevent continue to harm children and communities around the world — and in Canada. Understanding the threat is the first step toward protecting those we love.
View All Diseases — Canada.caWhy This Matters
Vaccination doesn't just protect individuals — it shields entire communities, including those too young or too vulnerable to be immunized themselves.
- Measles can cause brain damage and death
- Polio can cause permanent paralysis
- Pertussis kills infants under 1 year
- Meningitis can strike within 24 hours
- These diseases still circulate globally today
The Scale of the Problem
Diseases Vaccines Protect Against
These are some of the diseases that routine immunization programs in Canada actively prevent. Each one can cause serious illness, long-term disability, or death.
Measles
Highly contagious viral disease that can cause pneumonia, brain damage, and death. Eliminated in Canada through vaccination — but outbreaks still occur when coverage drops.
Polio
A viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis. Once widespread, polio is now rare globally due to vaccination — but remains a threat without continued immunization.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
A severe respiratory infection especially dangerous for infants under 1 year. Can cause prolonged violent coughing fits and is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable infant death.
Hib Meningitis
Haemophilus influenzae type b can cause bacterial meningitis and epiglottitis in young children — with risk of brain damage, deafness, or death if untreated.
Rubella (German Measles)
Mild in most people, but devastating if contracted during pregnancy. Congenital rubella syndrome causes deafness, heart defects, and intellectual disability in newborns.
Hepatitis B
A liver infection that can become chronic and lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Spread through blood and body fluids — vaccine provides lifelong protection.
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Though often seen as mild, chickenpox can cause serious bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis — particularly in newborns, adults, and immunocompromised individuals.
Pneumococcal Disease
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections — especially serious in children under 2 and the elderly.
Measles & Rubella Surveillance in Canada
Real-time data on measles and rubella cases across Canada highlights the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage in every community.
Measles Case Surveillance
Canada tracks reported measles cases through the national notifiable disease reporting system. After near-elimination, measles cases have climbed in recent years due to declining immunization rates and imported cases from international travel.
Rubella Monitoring
Rubella has been eliminated in Canada, but surveillance remains active to detect any returning cases — particularly important for protecting pregnant women from congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
Who Is Most Affected
Recent measles outbreaks in Canada have primarily affected unvaccinated children and young adults in communities with lower vaccination rates — showing that the disease targets the unprotected.
Is Your Family Protected?
Check the Canadian Immunization Schedule and find a clinic near you.