With the , (April 24-30) provides a timely opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the goal of “Immunization for All.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) raises awareness each year of the importance of equitable access to lifesaving and health-protecting vaccines. More than have been saved by vaccines, excluding vaccines for COVID-19, malaria, influenza, human papilloma virus, and other deadly diseases.
Immunization programs . The global eradication of smallpox, 99 per cent reduction of wild polio cases since 1988, and 40 per cent reduction in infant mortality are
Continued benefits from vaccines under threat in Canada
Supported by a universal health-care system, strong public health infrastructure, and publicly funded programs, such as measles, diphtheria and pertussis thanks to vaccines.
Recent trends, however, are cause for concern. A decline in vaccine confidence, worsening since the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges of access and the inclusion of vaccines in partisan political rhetoric have led to reduced vaccine uptake.
In 2024, , up from four per cent in 2019. The , with more than 800 cases and 61 hospitalizations, are real consequences of these choices. The Council of Canadian Academies more than 2,800 lives and $300 million in additional health-care and economic losses.
Vaccines for future pandemics
The spectre of a new pandemic looms with the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). In the United States, .
With vaccination likely playing a critical role in any public health response, the , and against vaccines is highly concerning. The United States’s withdrawal from global health, to , the Vaccine Alliance , is likely to profoundly harm global immunization programs and pandemic preparedness.
Canada must take stock of this changing landscape. Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam’s 2024 report, , sets out a clear framework for realizing the full potential of vaccination in Canada. In addition to in new vaccine development and biomanufacturing in Canada, this public health framework is designed to support a better co-ordinated national immunization system, concerted efforts to address public trust, and efforts to improve equitable access.
Need for a national immunization registry
The lack of integration of Canada’s fragmented immunization data across provinces and territories makes it more challenging to plan vaccine rollouts, identify coverage gaps or rapidly track adverse events after immunization. The Canadian Public Health Association and others have long called for a as essential for a modern and responsive system.
A national framework for vaccine data collection would allow policymakers and practitioners to make evidence-informed decisions in real time.
Supporting public trust
Sustaining high vaccination coverage begins with public trust in science, government and public health. While most people still trust science and scientists, what constitutes trustworthy sources of information has become a serious problem.
Insufficient transparency around vaccine development, regulation and monitoring of adverse reactions needs addressing. Concerns about the rapid pace of scientific advances, including the to produce an effective vaccine for a future pandemic, must be recognized.
With expected to roll out in coming years, including new frontiers in and , a would foster public trust. In this context, vaccine misinformation has become a serious problem.
Centring equitable access and design
The COVID-19 pandemic showed how the ability to access vaccines.
to support equitable access — such as mobile clinics, culturally appropriate information and community-led initiatives — increased uptake. These approaches need to be extended to routine vaccination.
Moreover, building supportive environments means incorporating an , which applies regulatory tools and systems design to support vaccine equity, from discovery to rollout means that the ability to keep vaccines refridgerated or , for example, do not contribute to disparities of access.
Bridge Research Consortium
The is a multidisciplinary team of social scientists and humanities scholars established in 2024 to understand the social and behavioural factors that influence new vaccine uptake in Canada.
Bridging understandings across the “pipeline” for developing new vaccines and therapeutics, and the public health system, the BRC supports tailored and equity-informed strategies that enhance public trust and equitable access. We will hear directly from communities across the country, identify concerns in real-time, and co-develop approaches that reflect diverse perspectives. We plan to achieve this through demystifying how vaccines are developed and produced, holding deliberative dialogues that bring together diverse perspectives on challenging topics, and creating a travelling science exhibit. World Immunization Week is a timely reminder of the importance of this work to enable Canada to realize the potential benefits of vaccines.
Immunity and Society is a new series from The Conversation Canada that presents new vaccine discoveries and immune-based innovations that are changing how we understand and protect human health. Through a partnership with the , these articles — written by academics in Canada at the forefront of immunology and biomanufacturing — explore the latest developments and their social impacts.
Kelley Lee receives funding from the Canada's Biomedical Research Fund, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund to support the work of the Bridge Research Consortium. The BRC is one of 19 projects funded to support Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy. She also receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and New Frontiers in Research Fund to conduct research on pandemic preparedness and response. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the National University of Singapore-The Lancet Pandemic Readiness, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation (PRIME) Commission.
Ève Dubé receives funding from the Canada's Biomedical Research Fund, Canada Foundation for Innovation, to support the work of the Bridge Research Consortium. The BRC is one of 19 projects funded to support Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy. She also receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Fonds de recherche du Québec to conduct research on vaccine acceptance.
Janice E. Graham receives funding from CIHR and PHAC.
Noni MacDonald receives funding from CIHR, CIRN grants related to immunization as well as PHAC and CPHA consultation fees related to immunization. She is a member of the Canadian Paediatric Society and the International Pediatric Society, a donor to Canadian Public Health Association and WHO, and on board of the journal Vaccine.
