Government of Canada invests in Projects to Improve Vaccination Rates in Canada

Health Canada

Partnerships to Help Increase Demand for and Enhance Access to Vaccination

Toronto, ON – April 23, 2018

Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective tools we have to protect ourselves, our families and our communities from infectious diseases. However, not enough Canadians are being vaccinated. As a result, Canadians still experience illnesses from vaccine-preventable diseases that can cause serious complications and can even lead to death.

Today, during National Immunization Awareness Week, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced close to $3.4 million in funding to increase vaccination rates in Canada. The Minister made the announcement at a visit to UNICEF Canada where the Kids Boost Immunity school vaccination program was demonstrated by the Public Health Association of British Columbia.

This investment will support the development of five multi-year projects being led by the Public Health Association of British Columbia, the Canadian Public Health Association, the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Ministry of Health of British Columbia, and the CIUSSS de l’Estrie (Quebec).

Minister Petitpas Taylor also launched a national awareness campaign on childhood vaccination, which will provide parents with evidence-based information to make informed decisions about vaccination to help keep their children healthy.