Genetics and the myth of vaccine encephalopathy

Abstract

The development of vaccines against communicable diseases is arguably the greatest medical achievement of the past 100 years, with countless lives saved. Despite this achievement, there has been a growing reluctance among parents to immunize their children (1,2). The most recent national estimates from 2006 (3) indicate variable immunization coverage in Canada. By two years of age, coverage rates ranged from 94% of children having been immunized against measles, mumps and rubella, to only 70% to 74% of children being immunized against pertussis, tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae B. Decreases in vaccine uptake could have significant public health consequences – there already have been imported outbreaks in Canada of infectious diseases, such as measles, which were formerly thought to be rare (4).