National Kids & Vaccines Day
ScienceUpFirst and Children’s Healthcare Canada joined forces on February 23 for National Kids and Vaccines Day 2023.
Please enjoy the livestream recording below.
Meet the Experts
Moderator
Dr. Katharine Smart, Pediatrician and Past President, Canadian Medical Association
Dr. Katharine Smart is a 20-year pediatrician who works primarily with children who have experienced trauma and adverse childhood events.
A passionate advocate for improving services for all children, Katharine works in Whitehorse (Yukon) and has implemented a new collaborative model of pediatric care to serve marginalized children while also providing acute care in a hospital setting.
Panelists
Dr. Cora Constantinescu, Pediatrician and Infectious Disease Specialist
Dr. Cora Constantinescu is a pediatrician, infectious disease physician, and clinical associate professor in Calgary AB. From seeing vaccine hesitant patients in the clinic to her academic pursuits in vaccine acceptance and surveillance, she has a strong passion for vaccine research and promotion.
She holds a masters in medical education and specializes in the development and study of education interventions rooted in behavioral change theory. She has applied these skills to vaccine education for healthcare workers and the public and continues to be a vaccine advocate at the local and national levels.
Dr. Javed Alloo, Family Doctor
Dr. Javed Alloo is a community based family doctor in Toronto, and an educator on integrated physical and mental health care, working with patients and families, working with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Trillium Health Partners and the Canadian College of Family Physicians.
Dr. Danielle Paes (CPhA), Chief Pharmacist
Dr. Danielle Paes holds Bachelor’s and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Waterloo and is the Chief Pharmacist Officer at the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA).
Danielle’s passion for serving the pediatric population was reinforced in her previous role as a clinical pharmacist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital where she cared for many children with complex medical, physical, and developmental challenges. Recognized as a dynamic and forward-thinking pharmacist, Danielle is committed to optimizing health outcomes for children and is passionate about promoting equity and inclusion for kids of all abilities. She believes pharmacists play a key role in healthcare delivery in their communities, providing a trusted source for information and services, including vaccinations.
Patricia Laforce, Registered Nurse
Patricia Laforce has been a registered nurse since 2013. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing science from Laval University and a master’s degree in nursing science from the University of Montreal. She has been interested in procedural pain management for several years. As part of her master’s thesis, she observed the effects of therapeutic clown distraction on children’s pain and anxiety during vaccinations.
She worked for 4 years in pediatrics at the CSSS Saint-Jérôme and joined the CHU Sainte-Justine team in 2017. She has developed expertise in surgery-traumatology and severe burns. Since May 2021, she has joined the Tout doux team (an institutional comfort initiative aimed at improving procedural pain and distress management) in which she plays a leadership role in the training of healthcare professionals and is responsible for the deployment of the project across the hospital.
This year’s focus will be on:
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- Routine vaccinations for children (2 months to 5 years): critical for protection against a wide range of vaccine-preventable diseases. Catching up on routine childhood immunization and ensuring that coverage doesn’t slip, or remain low, must be a top priority for children’s healthcare professionals and parents as we look to our future.
- Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, an important safe and effective method to combat these viral infections, especially in light of the current crisis in children’s healthcare.
Join the Movement
On February 23, join ScienceUpFirst and Children’s Healthcare Canada, as well as many other participating child health organizations, in promoting the uptake of safe and effective vaccines for kids.
Here are some ideas:
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- Share your #KidsVaccinesDay stories on social media; reshare others
- Join our national bilingual online Town Hall, during which experts will respond to questions from Canadians.
- Submit your questions about vaccines and the importance of catching up to our experts, who will respond during the Town Hall
- Host an immunization clinic on or in association with #KidsVaccinesDay