QUESTION PERIOD — Health
Vaccination Rates
May 1, 2024
Honourable senators, my question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. I’m pleased to ask this question on May 1 — which is National Physicians’ Day — and I’d like to thank Dr. Roumeliotis for pointing me to this question.
Canada grapples with a measles vaccine shortage amid a concerning surge of cases globally — including in Canada — and heightened demand. Across Canada, and in my province of Ontario, we’re struggling to bridge the gap caused by missed routine vaccinations during the pandemic, with public health officials cautioning that resolving this issue could span several years. According to a recent report, only 60% of seven-year-olds are fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and varicella, marking a significant decline from the 82% to 86% coverage.
Senator Gold, what strategies and initiatives are being implemented by the government to address the decline in childhood vaccination rates and mitigate the long-term consequences?
Thank you for your question, senator. As we know, although the provinces and territories are, in fact, responsible for the distribution and delivery of vaccines, the federal government has launched the Immunization Partnership Fund. This fund helps support community-driven initiatives designed to close the gap amongst populations with lower vaccine uptake. Through this fund, programs such as the VIP Project receive funding to continue to improve and further develop the capacity of health care providers as vaccinators, vaccine promoters and evidence‑informed vaccine communicators. This will help them continue to promote equitable respiratory and other childhood vaccine acceptance and uptake.
We know that vaccines save lives and should be distributed equitably and broadly in this country.
According to the government’s 2023 Adult National Immunization Coverage Survey, Canada is failing to meet its vaccination targets, leaving many vulnerable. A key issue hindering adult vaccination is widespread unawareness.
Senator Gold, what strategies is the government employing to disseminate vital information regarding the importance of vaccination to the public?
Thank you. That’s an important question. Through the fund to which I’ve referred, the government continues to invest in community initiatives to boost the uptake. Though I don’t have time to list all of the projects, there are currently 53 ongoing projects across this country aimed at boosting vaccine acceptance. I should note, if I may, that the government has committed an additional $9.5 million to this fund for 2023 and 2024.
