Children aged 7, 12, 13, and 17 are assessed by Public Health Ontario (PHO) for up-to-date immunization coverage, which is estimated as the percent who have received the recommended number of doses of a vaccine or have evidence of immunity at a given point in time (Table 1, Table 2, Table 3) [1-5]. Many children who are not up-to-date have received some, but not all, recommended doses in a vaccine series. The National Immunization Strategy's immunization coverage goals, updated in 2017, set coverage targets based on international standards and best practices [8]. Note that coverage estimates are limited to vaccinations reported to public health.
- In the 2022-23 school year, the immunization coverage rate among 7-year-old students in Ottawa was approaching the national goal of 95% coverage for rubella and Meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) and it was below the national goal for other diseases (Table 1). [5]
- In the 2022-23 school year, the immunization coverage rate among 17-year-old students in Ottawa reached the national goal of 95% coverage for rubella, was approaching the goal for measles, mumps and polio, and was below the goal for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (Table 2). [5]
- The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in declines in immunization coverage between 2019-20 and 2021-22 in Ottawa. From 2021-22 to 2022-23, increases in coverage were observed for all childhood vaccines, with the exception of rubella, Hib and MCC (Table 1, Table 2, Table 3). [1-5]