VACCINE RESOURCE COMMITTEE
of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association
View Full List of Vaccine Questions Here
General Vaccine Question #2:
Are vaccine preventable diseases still a concern?
We do not see many high rates of these diseases in Canada due to high levels of vaccinations; however, these still exist and can have devastating outcomes if not vaccinated. COVID-19 and influenza continue to be very prevalent as new strains of the virus circulate in the community.
Respiratory viruses continue to cause hospitalization, ICU admissions and death in Alberta. This table provides the data from August 25, 2024 to January 11, 2025.
Although diseases such as measles and polio have been eliminated in Canada, outbreaks are occurring in other parts of the world. Through travel and migration diseases are sometimes imported and then can spread easily in populations who are not fully vaccinated. Vaccines protect the vaccinated person and stops spread in our communities.
There has been a confirmed case of measles recently in Calgary, announced on December 19, 2024. From January to November 2024 there were 138 cases of measles and 1 case of congenial rubella reported in Canada.
In 2023, Alberta had 304 cases of pertussis. Lower vaccination rates were a driver for the outbreak. In 2022, 70.7 per cent of children across Alberta were vaccinated against whooping cough, but in the South Zone, just 58.1 per cent of children were vaccinated.
Before the varicella vaccine for chickenpox prevention was available in 1998, approximately 350,000 cases and 1,500-2000 hospitalizations for chicken pox occurred each year in Canada. Since 2000 there have been 11 pediatric deaths from varicella.
With respect to Shingles (Herpes zoster virus), from the Canadian Immunization Guide, “the lifetime risk of HZ has been estimated to be as high as 30% in the general population. In Canada, it is estimated that each year there are 130,000 new cases of HZ, 17,000 cases of PHN and 20 deaths.”
There were 25 to 55 deaths from tetanus per year during the 1920s and 1930s in Canada. After the vaccine was available in 1940 the number of cases declined. There were 6 deaths reported between 2000-2010.
Sources
Alberta Health Services-Confirmed case of measles prompts public alert to potential exposures
Government of Canada-Measles and Rubella Weekly Monitoring Reports
Government of Canada-Varicella (chickenpox) vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide
Government of Canada-Varicella (Chickenpox)
Government of Canada-Tetanus: Health Professionals
Government of Alberta-Respiratory virus dashboard
Government of Canada-Updated Recommendations on the Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccines