On June 12, 2024, Merck Canada convened a roundtable discussion supported by Santis Health to discuss the current initiatives being taken at the provincial and federal levels to support immunization in Canada.
The purpose of the roundtable discussion was to close the gap of communication between immunization stakeholders by bringing various experts from the federal and provincial governments, health care providers, patient groups, and private organizations into one room to collaboratively share insights on how Canada can increase vaccine coverage across the country. Many programs and initiatives exist nationwide but continuous challenges hinder vaccine uptake. These experts shared various perspectives based on their experiences which resulted in key recommendations that can help put Canada in a much better position to support the health of the population.
Experts as well as former and current officials from a range of organizations contributed insights throughout the development of this What We Heard report through formal and informal discussions. These organizations include: the Adult Vaccine Alliance, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the Canadian Public Health Association, Immunize Canada, the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, the University of Ottawa Division of Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Allergy, CanPKU, Government of Alberta, and representation from a First Nation community in Alberta.
The following information is a summation of the discussion at this roundtable and additional stakeholder interviews. It showcases the dedication of fellow Canadians to improving health care and public health and ensuring widespread protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.
This What We Heard report provides reflections on what needs to happen in Canada to improve overall immunization uptake. It may be leveraged to inform materials related to this topic.
Download Full Report:
This report has been updated from the original version released in September 2024 to include updated information sources and data.