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Canada fails to vaccinate for common diseases: report

A national review of Canada’s non-COVID-19 adult vaccination rates for preventable diseases like flu and shingles for 2021 has found that many provinces are falling short, despite COVID-19 has proven aggressive vaccine efforts are possible.

CanAge, Canada’s National Aging Advocates, has released a “report sheet” assessing Canada’s adult immunization efforts in 2021, following on with their first report in 2020. .

The country scored a D- overall, with Prince Edward Island and Ontario the two best performing provinces, both receiving Bs.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, Nova Scotia and Quebec scored the lowest, with the first two receiving an F while the latter two received a D-.

Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, said in a press release, “Last year’s report revealed a number of worrying trends across the country in adult immunization. “This year, we are looking for major improvements, especially based on lessons learned about the importance of vaccines during a pandemic. Unfortunately, while there are pockets of progress, the national picture remains bleak.”

To create the classifications, the report looked at whether provinces met or exceeded standards set by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), while also looking at funding, accessibility and awareness. about vaccines.

Canada does a good job in immunizing children, largely due to the ease of vaccination rounds in schools, the report said. However, adults still lack vaccinations for common preventable diseases.

“Given the novelty of the COVID vaccine, the reality is that about 94% of Canadians age 60 and older have received two doses, and about 70% (age 65 and older) receive a flu shot during the 2020–2021 season (where they are reminded year after year), it seems that the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine for older adults is not only a success but also shows that it is possible with strong cooperation between the authorities federal and provincial/territory,” the report states.

The report notes that although the overall score of D- is the same as last year, there has been some variation across the country.

Yukon has been the most improved on adult vaccination efforts, going from an F last year to a C this year, having implemented a “high-dose seniors-specific vaccine coverage program.” and better vaccine awareness.

Ontario, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon are also the only provinces or territories funding the recommended shingles vaccine, the report states.

The report points out that remote populations and limited access to on-site medical care make it difficult to vaccinate adults in regions like Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, but adds that COVID-19 vaccination efforts in these regions show that with the right support, it is capable.

Of the two regions that scored poorly, the report indicated that Newfoundland and Labrador did not meet the NACI recommendations for influenza, pneumonia or shingles, and the province failed to make any recommended policy changes. from last year’s report.

The report indicates that with their better resources, regions like Quebec and BC would achieve better adult vaccination rates, but while BC establishes flu vaccine coverage for those aged 18 and over or later in 2021, both provinces are trailing behind .

In particular, while BC scores high in awareness of vaccines, BC scores F in vaccine accessibility.

The full report features more detailed breakdowns for each province in terms of their grade level.

Nationally, only 4 out of 10 Canadians with chronic illnesses will receive a flu shot during the 2020/21 flu season.

The report states that when it comes to achieving the goals of the National Immunization Strategy, Canada is still not on track.

The strategy sets out the immunization goals the country is aiming for by 2025.

One of those goals is to get 80% of older adults vaccinated against pneumonia by 2025 – but that number is now 55%.

Only 26% of adults aged 18-64 with underlying medical conditions received the pneumonia vaccine.

The report notes that older Indigenous people often face barriers to access to immunization and are a priority group in outreach programs to immunization groups.

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