Estimated vaccination coverage for measles, mumps and rubella, by children 2 years of age, Canada and the provinces and territories, 2013, compared with national standard
Notes:
Coverage represents the % of children 2 years of age who have received the vaccine.
Across Canada, publicly-funded immunization programs are provided for the routine administration of childhood vaccines against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B infections.
Each vaccine is administered according to provincial and territorial immunization schedules which vary slightly between jurisdictions.
To monitor the protection of a population against vaccine preventable diseases, coverage is considered an important health indicator.
It is a sensitive measure and can be used as a proxy measurement to evaluate health services, systems, and interventions.
National standards for the reporting of immunization coverage in Canada were last published in 2005.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/national-standards-immunization-coverage-assessment-recommendations-canadian-immunization-registry-network.html – accessed May 26, 2017.
Government of Canada. Immunization coverage and registries.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-coverage-registries.html – accessed May 26, 2017.
Source: CICH table created using data adapted from the Public Health Agency in Canada (PHAC). Vaccine Coverage in Canadian Children. Results from the 2013 Childhood National Immunization Coverage Survey (CNICS). 2016
http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/aspc-phac/HP40-156-2016-eng.pdf – accessed May 26, 2017.
In 2013, for children two years of age, none of the provinces/territories reached the vaccination coverage rates recommended in the Canadian national standards for measles, mumps and rubella.
The lowest coverage rates were in Manitoba and Nunavut.
For Canada overall, the coverage rate was 7.4% below the national standard for measles; and 7.8% for each of mumps and rubella.
Implications
Incomplete immunization coverage subjects Canadian children, youth and adults to risk of serious illness.
In recent years there have been periodic outbreaks of measles in Canadian communities. This outbreaks put children at significant risk of illness, disability and death.1
Rubella presents a serious risk to the fetus if a woman contracts it during pregnancy.
According to Dr. Gregory Taylor, former Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada, “All Canadians have a role to play in keeping vaccine-preventable diseases at bay. Speak to your health care provider if you have questions. Immunization is a cornerstone of public health – make sure you and your family are protected.”2
1Public Health Agency of Canada. 2016. Message from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada: National Immunization Awareness Week April 23 to 30, 2016.
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1056479&tp=980 – accessed May 26, 2017.
2Public Health Agency of Canada. 2016. Vaccine Coverage in Canadian Children: Results from the 2013 childhood National Immunization Coverage Survey.
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/publications/healthy-living-vie-saine/immunization-coverage-children-2013-couverture-vaccinale-enfants/index-eng.php?_ga=1.10659505.462930771.1474382704 – accessed May 26, 2017.