Vaccines save lives

Re: Great cause, poor choice, Jan. 30. The science behind vaccination is solid. There is overwhelming benefit in vaccination to prevent diseases that once killed or maimed — and still have the potential to do so. Since vaccines have been introduced, the incidence of diseases such as bacterial meningitis, measles and wild-type polio have decreased by 95 per cent, to say nothing of the greatest success, the eradication of smallpox.

As physicians and parents, we say without reservation that vaccines save lives. Next to the availability of clean water and progress in sanitation, immunization remains to this day the most effective means to prevent diseases for which vaccines are available. As a prosperous and affluent country, we sometimes lose sight of what vaccination has done for us. Our collective memory of diseases such as diphtheria, rubella and tetanus has waned, partly due to the success of public vaccination efforts. However, recent outbreaks of diseases remind us that we must remain vigilant and continue our vaccination efforts in order to decrease and even eliminate the incidence of preventable illnesses.

In 2011, a measles outbreak in Europe resulted in 26,000 cases of measles, with more than 7,000 hospitalizations and nine deaths. Of note is that 90 per cent of those who contracted measles were not immunized or did not have their vaccination history reported. Even closer to home, in 2011, 725 cases of measles were confirmed in Quebec where the majority of those cases also did not have adequate protection against measles through vaccination. The dangers associated with decreasing immunization rates are real.

We appreciate that parents want to do what is best for their children. Vaccination is one of the best things we can do to protect them. It works.

ISRA LEVY, MD, Ottawa Medical Officer of Health

DIANE TWEMLOW, MD, President, Academy of Medicine Ottawa