the availability of publicly funded adult vaccinations across the country is patchy and inequitable
"the postal code of canadians should not be a factor in their health status”
3 minute read
while equal access to vaccines for children across canada has made great strides recently, there remain great disparities in the immunization of adult canadians.
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gsk canada
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no medical innovation has saved more lives than vaccination, but the benefits of disease-preventing vaccines are not equally accessible across canada. while egalitarian access to vaccines for children across canada has made great strides in recent decades, there remain great disparities in the immunization of adult canadians. in canada, the national advisory committee on immunization (naci) makes recommendations on the use of approved vaccines. the independent body — which brings together experts from a variety of fields such as immunology, pharmacy, epidemiology and public health — identifies, among other things, the canadian populations at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases that should be targeted for public immunization coverage.
currently, there is no obligation for canadian provinces and territories to allocate funding to provide naci-recommended vaccines free of charge to their citizens. consequently, the availability of publicly funded immunizations across canada is patchy and inequitable, particularly for certain diseases that disproportionally affect older adults, limiting access to those who are aware of vaccine recommendations and have the means to pay for them.
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these disparities are at odds with the canadian ideology of universal health care. so how can they be reduced?
according to marni freeman, vice president and country medical director for gsk canada, the key to bridging this equality gap is two-fold: first, increased federal funding is required to support provincial and territorial immunization programs, and second, increased access to pharmacy-based vaccination could ease the burden for those without a primary-care physician.
“the postal code of canadians should not be a factor in their health status,” says marni freeman. “by addressing the barriers to immunization, we can build a stronger, healthier and more resilient future for all.”
there is, of course, precedent that backs these claims. “the federal and provincial response to the covid-19 pandemic demonstrated in real time the importance of making vaccines rapidly available to the population in an equitable manner for all and through multiple convenient points of access,” explains freeman.
“the postal code of canadians should not be a factor in their health status,” says vice-president and country medical director for gsk canada, marni freeman.
equality for all canadians
one example of the current inequitable distribution is the vaccine used to prevent shingles. this disease, which causes painful rashes and nerve pain that can last for months or even years, will affect about one in three canadians in their lifetime. yet vaccination to prevent its onset is available free of charge for older adults in only four canadian provinces and territories (quebec, ontario, prince edward island and the yukon) and at varying ages.
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“immunization saves lives and helps people of all ages live healthier lives. it is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. yet, governments faced with tough and complex decisions about budgets allocation are not investing enough in vaccinating adult populations, resulting in negative impacts to individuals and the healthcare system that primarily affect the most disadvantaged communities,” freeman explains.
as new vaccines come to market, such as those expected to prevent rsv (respiratory syncytial virus), inequalities are bound to increase without wider public immunization coverage. increased federal funding is needed to support provinces and territories to ensure immunization rates aren’t affected by the income level of their citizens – especially those who are older or live in less fortunate circumstances. but that’s just one piece of the puzzle.
facilitating access
currently, low adult immunization rates are partly the result of a fragmented and complex health system, and are responsible for illness, death, and costs to individuals and society, which could otherwise be avoided by timely vaccination. immunization rates could be improved through easier and more convenient access points, reducing complexity for adults to receive vaccinations.
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according to freeman, this barrier can be addressed by permitting pharmacists to prescribe and administer adult vaccines. “the recent pandemic revealed how critical the role of pharmacists can be in immunizing populations rapidly and effectively,” she explains.
in fact, according to one study, 28 per cent of canadians vaccinated against influenza may not have been immunized if they did not have access to pharmacy-based vaccination.
expanded access to immunization is therefore beneficial to the community as a whole, but also to the health-care system and the economy.
if we truly believe canada’s healthcare must be universal, it is crucial to implement these changes to create true equality across all citizens, regardless of location, income or age.
this story was provided by gsk canada for commercial purposes.
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