According to data from Alberta Health Services (AHS), the percentage of children aged 2 and older who are up to date with their polio vaccine, which is four doses, has fallen from 78.82% in 2019 to 74, 77% in 2021.
This vaccine also protects against other diseases, including whooping cough. Infants should receive four doses between birth and 18 months.
As for measles, there is also a drop in vaccination coverage among children aged 7 and over. This figure was 81.04% in 2019 and decreased to 75.84% in 2021 for coverage comprising two doses of vaccine.
AHS indicates that 2022 issues will not be available until 2023.
Shannon MacDonald, a researcher and professor at the University of Alberta’s medical school, led a team that studied the impact of the pandemic on the vaccination coverage of Alberta children.
For her, what stands out the most is that the rate of vaccination coverage of children in schools, in particular vaccines against hepatitis B, papillomavirus and meningitis, has drastically decreased due to the closure of schools. in 2020 and the alternation between face-to-face and online courses in 2021.
Two years behind schedule
We kind of got kids two years behind
she explains.
On childhood vaccination coverage, Professor MacDonald says the numbers have dropped by 5% and recalls that even before they weren’t as high as they should be.
Infectious disease specialist at Alberta Children’s Hospital, Dr. Cora Constantinescu, in addition to school closures, the mobilization of public health personnel in the fight against COVID-19 has hindered access to vaccines against certain diseases.
» I fear that diseases that we never thought we would see again could reappear because of under-vaccinated or unvaccinated people. »
She also thinks that with people traveling a lot again and some people reluctant to have their children vaccinated, the table is set for the potential return of infectious disease outbreaks.
According to Dr. Constantinescu, a major effort is underway to catch up with vaccination coverage among young Alberta children.
New York City declared a state of emergency late last week as it struggled to contain the polio virus, found in sewage.
Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Deena Hinshaw, recently called on the public to make sure her vaccination coverage is up to date. She warned that diseases can be imported easily and spread quickly, especially in communities where vaccination rates are lower.
With files from Jennifer Lee
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