Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, addressed some of the myths around vaccine safety, effectiveness, and side effects at a town hall meeting with community members in Nunavut today.

"It's important that Canadians learn the facts about immunization," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Immunization is a very safe and effective way for Canadians to protect themselves and their families against the virus."

When looking for information on vaccine-related issues, Canadians should refer to credible sources such as the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, provincial and territorial departments of health and/or public health officials.

"The dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases like the H1N1 flu are much greater than the small risk of a serious reaction to a vaccine," said Dr. David Butler-Jones. "Vaccines are among the safest tools of modern medicine. They are thoroughly tested and reviewed by companies, regulators and the Government before being administered to the public and they are tracked carefully afterwards."

The town hall discussion followed an announcement by the Minister earlier in the day about the release of a comprehensive preparedness guide that provides Canadians with information about the H1N1 flu virus, steps they can take to protect themselves, and what to do if they, or their family members, get sick. For more information and to access the guide online, go to fightflu.

"Over the coming weeks, we will continue to address the concerns Canadians have around the H1N1 flu virus, including the issue of vaccination," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Canadians will be provided with the information they need to protect themselves from the H1N1 flu virus."

Source
Health Canada