This week is Immunization Awareness Week and health officials are reminding everyone to stay up to date on their vaccines. Melissa Thompson, program manager for the Vaccine Preventable Disease Team at the Middlesex-London Health Unit, says this week is a great chance to look at how vaccines protect both individuals and the wider community.
One common misconception, she says, is that natural infection gives better immunity than a vaccine.
Vaccines also help protect the community through something called herd immunity.
At this time of year, the focus is on routine vaccines, especially for children. In the fall, attention turns to respiratory illness vaccines like flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
Thompson encourages all adults, especially those over 18, to check if they’re overdue for any shots. She also reminds parents to vaccinate their children.
Immunization Awareness Week runs the last week of April and shares its timing with World Health Organization’s World Immunization Week.
The message is clear: check your records, update your shots, and help keep yourself and your community healthy.
Written by: K. Milhomens