SAULT STE. MARIE – The Ontario Medical Association President Dr. Sohail Gandhi was in Sault Ste. Marie on October 18 stressing the importance of getting your child vaccinated.
Gandhi says social media has had a negative impact when it comes to medical officials trying to share the truth about the importance of being vaccinated.
"There's been a lot of concern in the medical community that as we're trying to take care of our patients, a number of them have been hesitant to get vaccines because of the misinformation on social media," says Gandhi.
The Ontario Medical Association is currently touring the province, trying to promote its new website. The goal is to give people factual information about vaccination.
"We're trying to provide evidence to people who may have questions and concerns about vaccines. Show them why they're healthy, why they're safe, why it's important for a child to be immunized," he explained.
In Sault Ste. Marie, the immunization record is fairly high.
Currently, 98.5% of 17-year-olds have received all of their measles vaccinations.
When it comes to one certain type of childhood vaccination, Algoma Public Health says not everyone is getting it.
"So we only have about an 80% coverage for meningitis. Which although it's an extremely rare disease, it has a high mortality rate and a high level of disability. So it surprises me that 20% of the parents are willing to expose their kids to potential meningitis infection when there is a free and effective vaccine," said Dr. Marlene Spruyt, Medical Officer of Health.
Professionals hope that their new website will encourage people to get all of their free shots.
