Childhood Immunization & Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Ontario

Childhood Immunization & Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Ontario 

Ontario's Routine Immunization Schedule

https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/immunization/static/immunization_tool.html 

Parents are encouranged to keep an online record of vaccinations using either Canimmunize App 

https://www.canimmunize.ca/en/home

or Toronto Public Health online portal

https://tph.icon.ehealthontario.ca/#!/welcome

 

Rotavirus (Rot-1) vaccine – given at 2 and 4 months

Rotavirus is a common infection that causes vomiting and diarrhea in infants and children.

Pneumococcal conjugate (Pneu-C-13) vaccine – given at 2 months, 4 months and 12 months

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine protects children against invasive pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia, bacteraemia (infection of the blood) and meningitis (infection of the brain). 

DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine – given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 18 months

protects children against five diseases ― diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and serious diseases like meningitis caused by haemophilus influenzae type b.

 

 

Influenza / Flu Vaccine is offered during Flu season every year to individuals age 6 months and above. 

Pharmacies are able to adminster the vaccine to children age two and above. Patients can locate a provider using this search engine

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/system/services/phu/locations.aspx

Note that the vaccine administered to those age 65 and above is a higher dose version.  

https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/information-for-healthcare-professionals/immunization-and-vaccine-info-for-health-professionals/

 

Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-C) vaccine at 12 months

Meningococcal disease occurs in two main forms. Meningococcal septicaemia, also called meningococcemia, occurs when the bacteria infect the bloodstream and cause blood poisoning. Meningococcal meningitis occurs when the bacteria infect the outer lining around the brain and spinal cord. 

 

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine - given at 12 months

The MMR vaccine is a three-in-one needle that protects against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). It should be given to children soon after their first birthday and a second dose at 4-6 years of age with the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.

 

Varicella (chickenpox) (Var) vaccine - given at 15 months

It should be given to children at 15 months and a second dose at 4-6 years of age with the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine

 

Tdap -IPV vaccine – given at 4 to 6 years

Tdap-IPV vaccine is a combined vaccine that protects children against four diseases ― tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and polio.

 

Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) vaccine - given at 4 to 6 years

 

 

School Age Vaccines are usually given in school, but can also be administered at Public Health Clinics and Family Doctors Office

https://www.tphbookings.ca/Default.aspx?PageID=11180

 

Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) vaccine - given in Grade 7

 

Hepatitis B (HP) vaccine - given in Grade 7 age 11-15

2 doses given 4-6 apart of the adult dosage vaccine

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that affects the liver and can cause permanent damage. It's the biggest cause of liver cancer worldwide.

 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine - given in Grade 7

Two doses of Gardasil-4 vaccine minimum six months apart. 

HPV is contracted through skin contact and sex. It’s a cause of cervical cancer in girls and genital warts in girls and boys. 

Notably the vaccine is OHIP covered for grade 7-12 students, however age 15 and above require a three dose series.

 

Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine - given at 14 to 16 years

 

 

Vaccine Preventable Disease prevalance in Ontario

 

Immunization is widely recognized as one of the greatest public health achievements of the twentieth century. 

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/health-topics/immunization/vaccine-preventable-diseases

 

Firstly, to put the data into context, here is COVID19 Children Data during Pandemic in Ontario for reference as of date of publishing blog. Ontario is a province in Canada with a population of approximately 15 million people.

567 Hospitalized ( 30,032 in all age groups )

6 Deaths ( 9,771 in all age groups ) 

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/data-and-analysis/infectious-disease/covid-19-data-surveillance/covid-19-data-tool?tab=summary

 

2019 Data reporting of Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the province of Ontario

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is spread through having close contact with someone who has the bacteria in their nose and mouth, including asymptomatic carriers. IPD occurs when the pneumococcal bacterium invades a normally sterile site (e.g., blood) and can cause pneumonia, sepsis (blood poisoning) and meningitis.

 

1,269 cases

1,086 hospitalizations

 

148 deaths

 

Haemophilus influenzae is a bacteria that has six strains (types “a” through “f”), as well as strains that cannot be typed; type b (Hib) is the most serious. Hib is spread through contact with respiratory droplets and nasal or throat discharges. Hib can cause meningitis and other serious infections, particularly in young children. 

302 cases

238 hospitalizations

32 deaths

 

 

 

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. It is an uncommon, but serious disease spread through close contact with someone who has the bacteria in their nose and mouth. IMD can lead to swelling of tissues surrounding the brain (meningitis) or bloodstream infection and causes complications such as hearing loss, amputations and death.

 

36 cases

32 hospitalizations 

 

6 deaths 

 

 

 

Influenza / Flu led to six child deaths reports in all of Canada ( more than double population size as Ontario ) during 2019 season. Overall among all age groups each year in Canada about 12,200 people are hospitalized and 3,500 die due to influenza and its complications

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/flu-1.4975466 

 

 https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/diseases-medications-vaccines/influenza-flu-fact-sheet/

 

 

 

No deaths reported in Ontario in the year 2019 for the following diseases:

Varicella, or chickenpox, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is easily spread from person-to-person by touching or breathing in the virus particles from chickenpox blisters. Common symptoms include fever and a blister-like skin rash. Herpes zoster, or shingles, is a painful rash that can occur many years following chickenpox.  

415 cases

43 hospitalizations 

 

 

 

Pertussis ( whooping cough ) is an acute infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is transmitted through respiratory droplets spread during coughs and sneezes from an infected person. Symptoms begin with a mild respiratory illness, which progresses to prolonged cough episodes, which may lead to vomiting.

 

458 cases

28 hospitalizations 

 

 

 

Measles is a highly contagious virus spread through coughing and sneezing that can live for up to two hours in the air. Symptoms of measles include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes and Koplik (white) spots in the mouth.  

14 cases

5 hospitalizations 

 

 

 

Mumps is caused by a virus that is primarily spread person-to-person through contact with the saliva of an infected person. Symptoms may include facial swelling on one or both sides of the face (known as parotitis), fever and headache.

 

76 cases

1 hospitalizations 

 

 

 

Tetanus (lockjaw) is caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. The spores are commonly found in soil, dust and feces. A person can become infected with tetanus when the spores enter the body through broken skin such as a puncture wound, cut, animal bite or burn. Tetanus is characterized by muscle spasms, seizures, fever and may result in death.

 

1 case

 

1 hospitalization

 

 

 

No cases reported in Ontario in the year 2019 for the following diseases:

Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is rare in Ontario. It is spread from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing or can be spread indirectly by touching contaminated objects. Symptoms include, fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, malaise and loss of appetite. In Ontario, a vaccine series to prevent diphtheria is started in infancy with booster doses throughout life.

 

 

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Most people who get infected will not have any symptoms, however less than 1% of infections lead to irreversible paralysis. Symptoms of minor illness include fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. Poliovirus is transmitted from person to person mainly by contact with secretions or feces from an infected person. As a result of vaccination, Canada has been polio free since 1994.  

Rotavirus infection is a viral infection that causes acute gastroenteritis particularly among infants and young children. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, often with vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. Rotavirus spreads through contact with hands, toys, diapers or other objects that have small amounts of infected stool on them

 

 

Rubella is a viral disease that is spread through respiratory droplets during coughs and sneezes from an infected person. Women who acquire rubella during pregnancy can transmit the virus to their fetus, causing miscarriage, stillbirth or birth defects (congenital rubella syndrome). Endemic rubella disease has been eliminated in the Americas

 

 

INFORMATION & DISCLAIMER: 

I obtained my primary medical education from India and post graduate MD in Family Medicine from the United Kingdom. After working in National Health Service, England for 15 years, I moved to  Canada five years ago.  As a Family Physician, I consider my speciality as engaging patients, interpreting medical information for them, guiding them through their health journey, promoting wise health choices and encouraging early detection and management of disease. 

The information on this blog is accurate as per time of publishing. Scientific information and evidence changes dynamically and my opinions would change accordingly. 

The recommendations on this blog are not prescriptions and any patients considering these should consult with a physician to check if these are applicable to their unique situation.

 

Physician websites I commonly use for reference include 

https://www.medscape.com/familymedicine 

https://gpnotebook.com/homepage.cfm

 

https://www.guidelinesinpractice.co.uk/ 

 

Patient reference websites I commonly recommend to patients include

 

https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/ 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-care-and-health-information

 

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/common-topics 

 

https://patient.info/

Patient confidentiality must be upheld at all times and any patients wishing to discuss specific medical scenarios on social media are requested to do so anonymously in 'third party' sense. 

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