Sunday House Call #287 for October 25, 2009

Heard on Madely Health Headlines Commentary for October 23, 2009

To be broadcast from 580 CFRA, Sunday October 25, 2009

3:15

As the focus of attention turns to the H1N1 outbreak that is now occurring across the country, the public faces an array of information sources that will influence their opinion about vaccination.

There have been many claims and critiques about the H1N1 vaccine and it has become a springboard to envelop other vaccines and vaccination programs within the realm of this criticism.

Where do these claims of harm from vaccines originate? Is there scientific evidence to support these claims? Where should the public look for information that they can use and be confident that what they are reading is valid?

• Dr. Nora (Noni) MacDonald, MD MSc FRCPc, Professor of Pediatrics at Dalhousie University and Division Pediatric Infectious Diseases at IWK Health Center.  She also is a consultant to the Department of Immunization, Vaccine, and Biologicals of WHO since completion of her term on the World Health Organization’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety. Dr. MacDonald has long been recognized in Canada, as an advocate for children and youth health and as a leader in paediatric infectious disease.

3:30

With the H1N1 flu season upon us, the need to provide credible evidenced-based information to the public is an essential in order to answer questions and concerns. Dr. Isra Levy, the City of Ottawa’s Chief Medical Offer of Health and Dr. Nadine Sicard, Associate Medical Offer of Health and member of the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) to answer many of the questions about the H1N1 vaccine and the science behind it.

• Dr. Isra Levy, the City of Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health
  Dr. Nadine Sicard, Associate Medical Officer of Health and member of the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations