Immunization and Vaccines: What are the Benefits and Risks? (Part 1)

Alberta Health Services (AHS) officials are asking residents of southern Alberta to get their children immunized as the best way to defend against a potential measles outbreak. With some towns reporting less than 70 per cent measles vaccination rates, AHS officials say misinformation about the effectiveness of vaccines may be to blame and could be putting children at risk, particularly the very young. With immunization being a free choice, some people choose not to vaccinate their children thinking there are risks associated with such, however vaccines are generally credited with being reasonable safe, effective and one of the best methods in which societies can reduce mortality in children. Are there any good reasons for not getting vaccinated? Recent outbreaks in Ontario and British Columbia of measles and whooping cough have health officials concerned an outbreak here could be imminent. The speaker will argue that very high immunization rates can protect our entire population through “herd immunity”, the critical mass needed to stop the spread of communicable diseases including measles, whooping cough and influenza. Speaker: Dr. Vivien Suttorp Dr. Vivien Suttorp is the South Zone Medical Officer of Health, Alberta Health Services Thursday Nov 7 from 12- 1:30pm at Country Kitchen Catering, basement of the Keg Restaurant on Mayor Magrath Drive.