This week is National Immunization Awareness week. 

 Dr Judy MacDonald from Alberta Health services said that nowadays immunizations are still needed even with our modern day medical and sanitary practices. 

"There are many different vaccine-preventable diseases out there and they are on our doorstep, getting a shot is how you protect yourself and your children against these diseases that can cause very severe illness and complications including death". 

According to the Government of Canada website, there are twenty-five vaccine-preventable diseases such as Hepatitis A & B as well as the human papillomavirus and tuberculosis to name just a few. Immunizations are not only for the possible diseases to reach Canada but its also crucial to get immunizations before travelling to other countries, particularly those with less modern medical and sanitary practices. 

"Apart from our routine immunization program which for kids contain vaccines that protect against 14 different types of diseases, there are many different diseases you can pick up while travelling like Hepatitis A or Typhoid." 

MacDonald also said it's important to continue to be up to date on your shots. If you don't know where to find your records there are organizations out there that can help. 

"If you truly don't remember where your records are and want to try and track them down you can call Health Link and they can get you started on the road to find those records." 

 According to the most recent Statistics Canada Data, almost one-third of those twelve years old and up received a vaccine in the 2013-2014 year.

 

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