Don’t Let History Repeat Itself: The Case for Vaccination

Before vaccines, diseases like measles and pertussis (whooping cough) regularly claimed lives. Today, those diseases are resurging—not because we lack the tools to prevent them, but because not enough people are using them.

Medical advancements have allowed for life-saving changes in our healthcare landscape, but they’ve also made it too easy to forget the reality of once-devastating diseases when immunization falls to the wayside. When vaccine-preventable diseases start making a quiet comeback in our communities, as they have been across Canada, it’s a clear sign that complacency and misinformation are taking their toll. Immunize Canada, the country’s leading coalition dedicated to promoting immunization and educating Canadians about the importance of vaccines, is spreading an all-too-important message: we can’t let history repeat itself. By getting immunized, we protect our collective futures.

Made up of health professionals, government bodies, non-profits, and private sector partners, Immunize Canada provides evidence-based, up-to-date resources for both the public and healthcare providers.

Their work spans education, health promotion, and advocacy, fighting not only viruses but also misinformation and complacency.

Immunize Canada knows that collective action starts with collective education. That’s why their partnership with Vaccine Ambassadors works to develop bilingual, co-branded resources to help promote routine vaccination across North America and ensure that life-saving information reaches as many people as possible.

Their goal is to ensure Canadians of all ages have the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about vaccines, and in doing so, help control, eliminate, and eventually eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases.

REAL STORIES, REAL STAKES

Vaccines save lives, and behind every campaign reminding us to get immunized are thousands of stories of lives saved, changed, and in many heartbreaking cases, lost. Immunize Canada’s 2025 campaign theme, "Don’t Let History Repeat Itself," is a reminder of what’s at stake.

Tristan Lachance lost his father to HPV-induced cancer at just 50 years old. “It wasn’t until after he passed that I realized his cancer was vaccine-preventable,” he said. Now a medical student, Tristan advocates for greater HPV awareness, especially among men.

“This is the most common sexually transmitted infection out there. It’s just one vaccine, but it can prevent so many terrible outcomes.”

Jessica Cohn’s infant son, Eitan, was hospitalized with RSV at just six weeks old. “He was on a ventilator in the ICU. I was terrified I was going to lose him,” she said. Although Eitan recovered, the trauma left a lasting impact. Jessica now shares her story so other parents understand how dangerous RSV can be and how critical immunization is, especially for newborns.

“Going through something like this changes you,” she shared. “Even the healthiest baby can be a victim.”

SCIENCE BACKED BY TRUST

Dr. Cora Constantinescu, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and Vice Chair of Immunize Canada, has seen vaccine hesitancy rise firsthand. “It’s a crisis for children’s health,” she warned. “We’re not just seeing skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines anymore, it’s affecting routine childhood immunizations, too. Many parents don’t believe their kids are at risk for these diseases. Until they do, we won’t see real change.”

In partnership with U.S.-based Vaccine Ambassadors, Immunize Canada is leading National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) this August, a four-week campaign built around timely, targeted themes like back-to-school season, parents and early childhood immunizations, immunocompromised populations, and adult immunization across your lifespan.

As Dr. Constantinescu puts it, “The vaccination decisions parents make today will determine what future their children inherit.”

If you are behind on any of your vaccinations, now is the time to catch up! Talk to your healthcare provider to figure out what vaccines are recommended for you, and share trusted information from organizations like Immunize Canada to counter misinformation in your community.

To learn more, visit immunize.ca