Children's hospital issues call to action to support vaccinations

OTTAWA, April 29, 2015 /CNW/ - CHEO, children's hospital in Canada's capital, and its physicians will be issuing a call to action today — during National Immunization Awareness Week — urging parents and community members to spread the facts about the benefits of immunization. 

CHEO's physicians are asking Canadians to 'Spread the facts, not infection' via an online petition and Facebook/Twitter ( #spreadfacts). Parents can find useful facts at www.spreadfacts.ca .

Why?

"We are rising to our responsibility to make sure the facts are out there," says Dr. Lindy Samson, CHEO's chief of infectious diseases. "It's time for us to battle the misinformation and encourage all health care providers across Canada to do the same."

Vaccinations save lives. To give their kids a healthy start, one of the most important things parents can do is to make sure their children receive their vaccinations in a timely manner, say CHEO's doctors. By choosing to vaccinate their children, parents are protecting not only their own child's life, but those of people in their community.

"Vaccinations are safe and effective in protecting us from many serious diseases. I urge Canadians to protect themselves, their families and their communities. Get the facts about vaccination from reliable sources and get vaccinated," stated the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health.

"CHEO is urging all community members to take a stand and be part of the solution by spreading the facts," says Alex Munter, CHEO's CEO. "Our doctors and nurses want to give parents accurate information about vaccinations so that they can do what is best for their children."

Now anyone can show their support and share positive information about vaccinations by going to the website and signing on to change the conversation about vaccinations. The campaign and microsite were designed by Soshal Group Inc., which did the work pro bono.

About CHEO
The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) is Canada's capital pediatric hospital and helps over 500,000 children and youth each year.

CHEO's vision is to change young lives in our community, while our innovation changes young lives around the world.  www.cheo.on.ca

SOURCE Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Related Links

http://www.cheo.on.ca