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Le Centre de vaccination AES is now part of the PRELEV Group.
Le Centre de vaccination AES is now part of the PRELEV Group.
Vaccination plays a crucial role in preventing many diseases and infections. Vaccines used in Canada are rigorously evaluated and approved by Health Canada, ensuring their high safety. Despite this, some people still express concerns about their potential effects on the body. In this blog post, we will clarify several misconceptions and distinguish myths from realities surrounding vaccination.
Even if they are much less common today, these diseases still exist. Vaccination programs have significantly reduced their presence in Canada, but a drop in vaccination rates can lead to their resurgence.
Furthermore, many of these vaccine-preventable diseases still circulate in other parts of the world. With the increase in international travel and immigration, the risk of importing these infections remains very real. The recent rise in measles cases in Canada clearly illustrates this possibility. – In 1998, Canada successfully eliminated measles thanks to its routine vaccination programs. This means that endemic transmission no longer occurs and that most cases and outbreaks originate outside Canada, with limited domestic spread. Canada continued to show low measles activity until 2024. – In 2025, Canada lost its measles elimination status due to sustained transmission of the measles virus strain associated with the multi-jurisdictional outbreak for more than one year. During the period when measles was eliminated in Canada (1998 to 2024), an average of 91 measles cases were reported each year, with the number of cases ranging from 0 to 752 per year. In 2025, 5,463 cases were reported. (2)So-called combined vaccines allow children to be protected against several diseases with a single injection. For example, Twinrix (hepatitis A and B) and the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) combine multiple protections in a single vaccine. Research shows that these vaccines are both safe and effective.
Furthermore, studies clearly show that the immune system is not “overloaded” when it receives several inactivated vaccines at the same time. On the contrary, vaccination stimulates and strengthens the body’s natural defenses. This is why many people prefer to receive several vaccines during a single appointment rather than having to return multiple times.
This vaccine is not responsible for autism. No scientific data has been able to support this claim. Signs of autism can appear around the same age as the period when this vaccine is administered, which leads some people to believe there is a link between it and autism.
According to several websites, much of the controversy surrounding the MMR vaccine and autism stems from a single article published in 1998 that suggested a link between the vaccine and autism. They discovered that this report was fraudulent and was removed from the internet. Numerous scientific studies worldwide have found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Nothing can replace vaccination, except contracting the disease itself — which obviously carries significant risks. Only the vaccine stimulates the production of specific antibodies against the virus or bacteria responsible for a given infection.
A balanced diet helps support the immune system, but it cannot prevent infectious diseases. Breastfeeding offers some protection against a few common infections, such as the common cold or ear infections. However, this protection remains partial and temporary, and in no way replaces the lasting immunity provided by vaccination.
Flu (influenza) vaccines only protect against influenza, while COVID-19 vaccines offer specific protection against the virus responsible for COVID-19. To be adequately protected against these two distinct diseases, it is therefore important to receive each of these vaccines.
There is no evidence that vaccines can cause cancer. However, there are vaccines that can act in reverse, and thus protect against certain cancers, such as HPV (human papillomavirus).
Like any medication, vaccines can cause side effects. However, the most common ones include redness, pain or swelling at the injection site, and fever. More serious effects, such as anaphylaxis, remain very rare.
If you have questions or would like recommendations tailored to your situation, our team is here to assist you.
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