Immunizations have not only played a significant role in the number of lives in Canada and the world, but have also impacted society drastically, making diseases like Polio, measles, and tuberculosis completely preventable.

This is National Immunization Awareness Week and Medical Health Officer Dr Lanre Medu says it's so important to receive your immunizations at a young age.

"Immunizations provide protections for infants and children against serious illnesses that may otherwise lead to famine, disability or even death." said Medu. "It also provides protection to all members of the community. The more people who get immunized, the vaccine preventable diseases are unable to take hold."

Many of our health care professionals believe immunization has saved more lives in Canada in the last 50 years than any other health intervention.