Your Child's Best ShotA parent's guide to vaccination

Disclosure Statement

• I have no affiliation (financial or otherwise) with a pharmaceutical, medical device or communications organization.

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What is it ?

• Vaccine information for parents • Written for parents• Language for parents

(The premier reference for Canadian parents on immunizations)

What is it ?

• Produced and published by the Canadian Paediatric Society

• Reviewed by the CPS Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee

History

1st Ed. 1997 2nd Ed. 2002 3rd Ed. 2006

Principal author Dr. Ron Gold

Why is it needed ?

It is important that parents are

provided with accurate information

about vaccination in a user-friendly

format from a trusted source

Who reads it ?

• Parents

• Day care workers, others who provide child care

• Teachers

• Health care personnel

• Available in libraries

• 2006 edition: approximately 18,000 copies sold

What is said about it ?

This book presents probably the most fair

and balanced picture of vaccines I have been

able to find anywhere. If you are at all worried

or skeptical of vaccines, this book can be a

really helpful resource for making informed

decisions and figuring out which vaccines

you would like to give your child, and on

what schedule. Highly recommended.

(posting Vancouver public library 2013)

Your Child's Best Shot ….sets about to help dispel

many of the myths and, in many ways, it seems to

be one of the most fair and balanced books I've

managed to encounter on the subject. Granted, it's

from the Canadian Pediatric Society - don’t expect

it to be anti-vaccine in any way. You can expect it,

however, to be fair and balanced, more than I had

expected before reading it.

(Review, RF Ferrance, J. Can. Chiropractic Assoc 2004;48:241)

What is said about it ?

4th Edition• 4th Edition expected February 2015

• Chapters reviewed by members of the CPS Infectious Diseases & Immunization Committee

(special thanks to Dr. Joan Robinson)

• CPS staff: – Jennie Strickland, Publications Coordinator– Elizabeth Moreau, Director, Communications &

Public Education

• Further information available at the CPS booth at this conference

What is new ?

Structure change:

• Hypothesized that parents may be more concerned about general vaccine issues than about details of individual diseases

• Information previously in Q and A format after disease chapters now organized into chapters

in Section I; new material added

Table of ContentsSection I: Vaccine basics: Why, when, who & how

1. Why vaccinate?

2. Routine vaccines: From newborn to grandparent

3. When extra protection is needed

4. The ABCs of vaccines *

5. Vaccine safety and effectiveness: Who keeps track? *

6. Adverse events and common concerns

* updates of previous chapters

Table of Contents

Section II: Vaccine-preventable diseases (16)

Section III: To find out more

–Evaluating health information on the Internet

–Additional resources

Appendix: Vaccines for foreign travel

Sources of Information

• Based on the current Canadian Immunization Guide

• When information not found there:

– Historical information (pre-vaccine) - much retained from the previous editions

– Other PHAC and Health Canada websites, including reportable disease statistics

– Plotkin et al Vaccines 6th edition 2013

How parents may use this book • To get an overview, or general information

• To look up specific concerns – including adverse effects, contraindications, and common vaccine fears

• To find out about vaccines given at different stages of childhood and adolescence

• To find out about vaccines for children with chronic conditions

• To get information on vaccines for travel

Relevance to health care providers ?

• Discusses common fears about vaccine safety and presents information about real and rumored adverse effects

• Presents and compares the risks of specific vaccines with the risks of the diseases they prevent

• Discusses common concerns about the effectiveness of or need for vaccines and presents evidence that vaccines work

How health care providers may use this book

If you are caring for children or vaccinating children and their families:

• Read the book (at least Section I)

– Prepare yourself for parent’s concerns and points of view

– Be familiar with questions parents often ask

– Find approaches and answers that may help them

How health care providers may use this book

• Have a copy in your clinic or office

– Show it to parents

– Look up answers to their questions together

– Tell parents who are interested how they may obtain the book

(available from CPS through website or by phoning; possibility of e-book being explored)

If you are teaching health care providers:

• Discuss this book with your students.

They will find it helpful in dealing with vaccine issues.

How health care providers may use this book

• Does this book have relevance to your practice?

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• If yes, are you likely to use it?

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