Vaccine Facts Public Awareness Campaign: Get Resources, Spread the Word

Misinformation about vaccine safety and effectiveness is causing vaccine hesitancy among parents and caregivers in Canada. The result? Throughout the country, lower levels of immunity among the broader population have triggered an increase in outbreaks of previously controlled diseases like measles .

To help healthcare professionals fight falsities and support patients, parents, and caregivers in learning about the importance and safety of vaccines, the Ontario Medical Association OMA has launched a public awareness social media campaign.

According to Dr. Nadia Alam, President of the OMA, many people now fear vaccines and incorrectly believe they pose a greater threat than the diseases they prevent. The campaign comes in response to recent outbreaks as well as efforts by anti-vaccination groups, using social media and print ads to spread misinformation. In a recent statement, Canada’s Chief Public Health Office, Dr. Theresa Tam indicated that doubt around vaccine safety was influenced by “misleading, or worse, entirely false information” spread online, and called on healthcare professionals to fight misinformation within their practice by opening up a dialogue with their patients.

Be a Part of the Vaccine Facts Campaign

Help your patients learn more about immunizations and start a dialogue about vaccine effectiveness and safety, using resources from the OMA Campaign.

Follow the OMA’s campaign on Facebook or Twitter @OntariosDoctors and use #VaccinesWork when sharing information through social media channels.

The campaign includes shareable resources like posters, facts sheets, and podcasts about important topics like:

• Vaccine facts (PDF Poster)
• Understanding vaccine allergies (Podcast with Dr. Derek Chu and Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman)
• Why vaccines are not harmful but, not getting them is (Statement from Dr. Nadia Alam, President, Ontario Medical Association)

Sharing Made Easy

Dentists can share quick vaccine facts with their community with the click of a button!

Visit the OMA’s Vaccine Facts page, scroll to the bottom, choose the fact you want to share, and then click the “Tweet this” button to post it directly to your Twitter feed. 

Are you talking about immunizations with your patients? We want to hear from you.

Leave a comment about this post in the box below, send your feedback by email or call us at 1-855-716-2747.

Until next time!

CDA Oasis Team