Now, Alberta is experiencing a disturbing drop in polio vaccination coverage for its youngest children, alarming public health officials. Recent 2024 data confirms this trend in a worrying way. Only 13.4% of two-year-olds in High Level have had the recommended four doses of the polio vaccine. This phenomenon is not just limited to the Golden Horseshoe, but is occurring elsewhere in the province. Two Hills County’s rate is 17.3%, and the Municipal District of Taber is even higher at 28.7%. Public health experts are concerned that with Alberta’s current dip in vaccination rates, polio might dangerously re-emerge. Another disease that Canada successfully eliminated in the 1980s is making a comeback and it’s stronger than ever.
In other words, in 2015 a remarkable 75.8% of two-year-olds in Alberta were fully vaccinated against polio. This number represents a dramatic drop when looked at with data just nine years earlier. Vaccination rates across Alberta’s north, central, and south zones are cause for concern. Today this number is stuck at about 55% – 56%. Craig Jenne, infectious diseases expert, explains that in order to build herd immunity, at least 80% to 86% of the population needs to be vaccinated to quell an outbreak.
Historical Context of Polio in Canada
Historically, polio was one of the most feared diseases in Canada, peaking during the 1950s when the nation was in the grips of a horrific epidemic. In 1953, there were 9,000 cases of the disease reported and more than 500 people died from it. As hospitals quickly began to swell with COVID patients, the capacity to provide care became strained. Iron lungs, the massive metal ventilators that kept post-polio survivors alive, lined the wards.
In 1994, Canada celebrated a tremendous achievement in public health when it was declared free of wild poliovirus. By 1998, the country had eliminated the disease completely. These were achieved thanks largely to widespread vaccination programs and public education efforts. This recent drop off in our uptake of vaccinations has ignited a panic. If this trend persists, the province may be faced with a return of polio.
The Current Vaccination Landscape
Rather, alarming statistics are emerging from all three regions. Health leaders are calling on us all to act now to fight this public health crisis. Recent outbreaks of measles in Alberta have further complicated the situation. Many experts are concerned these outbreaks are the harbinger of a new, more ominous trend—the rising tide of vaccination doubt taking firm hold among some parents.
In fact, doctors and scientists across the globe are on red alert. With good reason, they worry that these re-introductions might signal the resurgence of grave infectious diseases from history, such as polio. Jenne asserts that if vaccination rates remain low, “there is no reason why polio couldn’t re-establish itself in Alberta.” This critical and imminent threat makes it imperative for health authorities to act. They need to do a lot of heavy lifting to get those vaccination rates back up and help protect communities from outbreaks.
A Call to Action
Health officials are understandably alarmed by these disturbing trends. They’re helping lead the charge to raise public awareness and educate the public on the importance of vaccinating. Keeping children safe from vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio is imperative to their health. Perhaps most importantly, it serves a critical role in protecting public safety.
Now, implementation efforts are focusing on mobilizing resources and implementing strategies to increase vaccination rates all over Alberta. These initiatives include outreach programs targeting parents and caregivers to address their concerns about vaccines and provide accurate information about their safety and efficacy.
For herd immunity threshold needed for the collective protection of all to be reached, health authorities need to work towards meaningfully engaging communities. Engage local healthcare providers to be aggressive about getting people vaccinated. Help counter any misinformation that could scare parents away from immunizing their kids.
