Vaccines can help protect us against some serious diseases
Around the world, vaccines save millions of lives every year
Your immune system has had years to develop. The illnesses and vaccines you’ve had have helped to teach your immune system how to defend your body against those pathogens, which can help protect you against serious disease. This is called acquired immunity.
On a broad scale, vaccination—or immunization—has helped eliminate, contain, and control diseases that were once very common in Canada, such as diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, and polio.
Vaccination is important throughout your life
Before birth
Some vaccines are recommended during pregnancy to help protect babies from the moment they are born, when they are particularly vulnerable to respiratory viruses.
In the first months and years
Vaccination tends to start in the first few months of life, with regular vaccinations continuing through the beginning of school. Babies and young children have less developed immune systems, which makes them particularly vulnerable to certain infections. Vaccines help to protect them.
As we get older
Older children and adults may require vaccines to restore waning immunity (these are sometimes called “boosters”). There are also some diseases that are more common in adults, and vaccines can help protect against these conditions.
RSV is a respiratory virus that can have serious consequences for adults over age 60. Talk to your healthcare professional about how getting ABRYSVO can help protect you from RSV.
ABRYSVO is a vaccine to help prevent disease of the lower respiratory tract (lungs) caused by RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). ABRYSVO is given to pregnant individuals (from 32 through 36 weeks’ gestation) to protect their infants from birth through 6 months of age, and individuals 60 years of age and older. As with any vaccine, ABRYSVO will not protect 100% of those who receive it. ABRYSVO is not a treatment for RSV infection or its complications. Like all vaccines, ABRYSVO can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
For more information, please consult the Product Monograph or call 1-800-463-6001.