BC fails to meet national vaccination targets: report
Posted March 12, 2015 11:28 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Five provinces fail to meet national vaccination targets, and BC is one of them, according to a new report from the CD Howe Institute.
Report co-author Colin Busby says he believes a lack of convenience — not conspiracy theories — are the main reason why many children aren’t vaccinated or not fully immunized.
“Often, people are just busy,” says Busby. “They have a hard time remembering schedules. They have a hard time taking time from work to go in and get it. And often those things, I think, are bigger factors in explaining low coverage ratios over time.”
Busby also points to Ontario’s success at increasing vaccination rates by requiring parents to fill out paperwork to request exemptions if they want their children to attend public school.
“It is a powerful tool to force parents to make the choice, but allow them to make the choice nonetheless, and there’s no additional penalties involved,” he tells us.
Still, too many people are choosing to believe misinformation posted on social media while ignoring the recommendations of medical professionals, according to provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall.
“The question is ‘Who’s informing the parents and how do we make sure the parents have information that’s based on the best scientific and medical advice rather than some of the very inaccurate, bizarre stories on social media?'”
Kendall says the fact many people haven’t seen the effects of the diseases vaccines protect against is why some people resist allowing their children to get them.
