Ontario’s chief medical officer is advocating for a national vaccination timetable and database to tackle deficiencies brought to light by the resurgence of measles in Canada. Dr. Kieran Moore emphasizes the need for a centralized digital vaccine system in his recent annual report to the provincial legislature. He underscores the necessity of a unified strategy involving all levels of government and the healthcare sector to combat vaccine-preventable diseases amidst escalating vaccine hesitancy.
While each province and territory currently operates its own vaccination timetable and data system, health professionals and experts have long championed a national vaccine registry for over two decades. Ontario is portrayed as lagging in this regard compared to provinces like British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia, which have already updated their vaccine records systems.
The existing fragmented approach has resulted in confusion for parents who are compelled to act as record-keepers, while public health authorities struggle to identify coverage gaps and disparities in access, hindering their ability to respond effectively to outbreaks. Dr. Moore highlights the challenges in monitoring vaccine efficacy and safety, crucial amidst a doubling of parental skepticism towards routine immunizations in Canada between 2019 and 2024, alongside declining childhood vaccination rates post-COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Vinita Dubey, Toronto’s associate medical officer of health, echoed concerns over the outdated vaccination process in her jurisdiction. Parents are responsible for maintaining their children’s vaccination records, which are then submitted to public school boards in Toronto. The information is manually entered into Toronto Public Health’s system, leading to delays and inefficiencies.
Efforts are underway at the federal level, with the Public Health Agency of Canada collaborating with provinces and territories to link existing immunization databases and establish a surveillance framework for vaccine coverage. By October 2024, six regions, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Yukon, had submitted vaccine records as per the federal government’s website.
Ontario currently maintains vaccine records in separate data systems for schools, child-care centers, COVID-19 vaccinations, and Ontario Health Insurance Plan billing claims. Dr. Moore commended the Ministry of Health’s initiatives to integrate these systems and provide patients with digital tools to access their health information, including vaccination records.
The report emphasizes the economic benefits of a national vaccination schedule, citing potential cost reductions through centralized procurement, decreased duplicate vaccinations, and fewer preventable hospitalizations. Dr. Moore underscores the importance of a cohesive approach to safeguard public health and mitigate the impact of preventable diseases in the future.
