A guide to contraindications to childhood vaccinations

childhood vaccinations The infant and childhood immunization program in Canada has led to extraordinary decreases in serious infections with diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella. There is a danger that this successful immunization program may lead to complacency about vaccine preventable illnesses such that parents, and sometimes physicians, may become too focused on potential adverse events of vaccination and lose sight of the serious and sometimes even fatal consequences of the disease being prevented. Physicians and parents need reliable accurate information on true contraindications so that opportunities to immunize an infant or child are not missed. In fact, there are very few true contraindications. Deferral or delay of immunization based on misconceptions about contraindications puts an infant or child at risk. The following tables summarize the answers to the most frequently raised questions about contraindications. Tables 1 to 3 are based upon recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (1) and the American Advisory Committee on Immunization (2). Additional information written for parents is available in the publication entitled, Your Child’s Best Shot (3).