NEWS RELEASE
PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT
*************************
April 23-30 is National Immunization Awareness Week (NIAW), which focuses on the importance of vaccinations for all ages. This year, the Porcupine Health Unit is promoting the ImmunizaCA app.
The ImmunizeCA app allows individuals to enter their immunization history into their mobile devices and keep this information up-to-date on an ongoing basis.
According to Megan Touchette, a Public Health Nurse from the Porcupine Health Unit, your immunization record, “is your permanent health record and it is your job to keep it safe and up-to-date.”
She notes that this becomes especially important when you are seeing multiple health care providers or need medical attention. And, she says, if you’re a parent of school-age or preschool children, immunization information is required to attend daycares and schools.
If you’re an adult, she adds, this information may be required before you enter into post-secondary education or before starting a new job.
“Having accurate immunization information will save you time and hassle, and may save you from receiving the same vaccine twice,” says Touchette.
She adds that another feature of the ImmunizeCA app, is that it will alert individuals when they are eligible to receive vaccines, according to the Ontario publicly funded immunization schedule.
“This will allow more individuals to be mindful that they are due for a vaccine and, we hope, they’ll see their health care provider as soon as possible to receive it – thereby reducing the number of vaccine preventable diseases.”
According to Touchette, the ImmunizeCA app also provides access to information from credible and reliable resources.
“By having this information easily available to individuals they will be able to research information on immunizations from sources that are non-biased and provide accurate information. This will empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health.”
Touchette encourages everybody to download the app. “The ImmunizeCA app is available for download, free of charge, from the App Store, Google Play, or Blackberry World.”
The Porcupine Health Unit is located in Northeastern Ontario, serving the entire Cochrane District and Hornepayne, in Algoma District.
The main office is located in Timmins, Ontario, with branch offices in Cochrane, Hearst, Hornepayne, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Matheson, Moosonee and Smooth Rock Falls.
*************************
