Alberta Health Services
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Immunization (getting a vaccine) is the best way to protect yourself and your community against diseases that vaccines can prevent.
In the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more lives in Canada than any other treatment, procedure, or policy against disease.
Before vaccines, many Canadian children were hospitalized or died from diseases such as diphtheria, measles, and polio.
The World Health Organization estimates that, worldwide, vaccines prevent 3.5 to 5 million deaths every year.
Most vaccines are non-live (inactivated) vaccines. This means they have no living bacteria or viruses in them, so they cannot cause the disease they protect against. Examples of non-live vaccines include hepatitis A vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine.
Some vaccines are live vaccines. They contain a weakened form of the virus. Live vaccines do not cause disease in healthy people. Examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and chickenpox (varicella) vaccine.
People with a weakened immune system generally don’t get live vaccines, because there is a small chance they could get a mild form of the disease. But some people with a weakened immune system may still be able to get a live vaccine safely. Talk to your healthcare provider to help you decide what is right for you.
Some vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. These types of vaccines don’t contain any living bacteria or viruses, and they cannot cause disease. Examples of mRNA vaccines include some COVID-19 vaccines.
Many scientific studies from around the world have shown there is no link between MMR vaccine and autism. There is no evidence that any vaccine, including the measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine, causes autism.
Getting more than one vaccine at the same time is safe for children and adults. It does not overwhelm your immune system, and it does not put you at higher risk of serious side effects.
Getting more than one vaccine at a single healthcare visit helps to make sure you are up to date with all the vaccines that are recommended for you.
Only vaccines shown to be safe and effective when given together are offered at the same time. Check with your healthcare provider about when you or your child should get a vaccine or review Alberta's immunization schedule.
A healthy diet and lifestyle are important for overall health, but they do not give any immunity against the diseases that vaccines can prevent.
Without immunization, your body does not know to make antibodies to fight off diseases. No matter how healthy your diet or lifestyle, without immunization, you're at risk for serious diseases. You are also more likely to spread these diseases to others.
Most vaccines will protect 90% to 100% of children who get all their recommended doses, at the right ages, and at the right times.
Without immunization, your child could get very serious diseases. Some of these diseases could cause death. Getting your child immunized is the best way to protect them from serious disease.
Homeopathic or naturopathic solutions, often called “nosodes,” are sometimes marketed as vaccines or immunizations. But they do not replace immunizations.
Health Canada has not approved nosodes as vaccines.
Nosodes are not tested or monitored for safety like vaccines are. All vaccines in Canada are carefully tested and continually monitored for safety.
There is a lot of information on the internet, social media, and podcasts about immunization and vaccines. Some of it is true and some of it isn’t. Here are things to watch for to help you know which sources to trust.
Be careful of sources that give only opinions, focus on feelings not facts, or are written by anyone who is not a medical expert in immunization.
