VACCINATION MYTHS BUSTED

Misinformation is a key contributor to vaccine hesitancy, so Victor Wong is setting the record straight about common vaccination myths: MYTH 1: VACCINES RESULT IN SICKENING SIDE EFFECTS: In a Health Canada survey, 37 per cent of Canadians believed a vaccine can cause the same disease it was meant to prevent. BUSTED: Vaccines cannot make you sick and you cannot contract the disease from the vaccine. In fact, most vaccines do not contain a live virus, and in vaccines that do, the virus is severely weakened so it can trigger an immune response, but not cause any illness. MYTH 2: VACCINES ARE ‘ONE AND DONE’: It’s a common misconception that childhood vaccinations last a lifetime and there’s no need for booster shots as an adult. BUSTED: Protection from previous vaccinations can diminish with age, so it’s important to receive “booster” doses of some vaccines including those for tetanus and diphtheria. MYTH 3: IT’S ALL ABOUT ME: Some people think the decision to stay un-vaccinated only impacts themselves.

BUSTED: Herd immunity is an important factor in containing the spread of disease to higher risk groups like babies, children, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses. By keeping up to date with vaccines, adults act as barriers to outbreaks and prevent disease spreading to those who are at higher risk.