council on health promotion

Health Canada licenses homeopathic vaccines accines stand out as one of the recent years to levels well below this vent disease, homeopathic prepara- most cost-effective health in - threshold. Canada’s tions typically are diluted beyond the V terventions in modern medi- Agency estimates that only 62% of 2- point where a single molecule remains. cine.1 It is estimated that immuniza- year-olds are up to date with their Remarkably, at the same time as tions have saved more Canadian lives shots.4 Health Canada focuses on influenza over the last 50 years than any other It is disheartening enough that mis- education, flu shots, and other proven health program.1 Vaccines are credit- information about vaccines is spread prevention measures, that same body ed with reducing the death rate from by voices ranging from outspoken has licensed 10 products with a home- infections in Canada to only 5%2 —a celebrities like Jennifer MacCarthy5 opathic preparation called “influenz- far cry from the situation 100 years to various trades,6 inum.”8 According to providers, in - ago when infectious diseases were the but it is cause for urgent concern when fluenzinum is for “preventing the flu leading cause of death. public institutions entrusted with the and its related symptoms.”9 But there is a downside to the near health of Canadians enable misinfor- Homeopathic vaccines are avail- eradication of vaccine-preventable ill- mation about endemic communicable able for other infectious diseases as nesses. Most Canadians were born too diseases to go forward with the impri- well. Health Canada licenses homeo- recently to see the night-and-day dif- matur of science. pathic preparations purported to pre- ference in public health brought about vent polio,10 ,11 and pertussis.12 by immunizations—individuals who Health Canada continues to assure witnessed the horrors of the polio epi- Canadians that it tests products for demics of the 1950s first hand are Only 62% of safety and efficacy before allowing now well into old age, and many have them to enter the market. All approved passed away. Good health can be 2-year-olds are homeopathic products are given a taken for granted when the public up to date with DIN-HM number. The website states, does not properly understand the link “A NPN or DIN-HM means that the between that same good health and the their shots. product has been authorized for sale measures that made it possible, and in Canada and is safe and effective unfortunately, history and science when used according the instructions cannot always conquer misinforma- on the label.”13 tion, mistrust, and fear. Health Canada is responsible for Natural health products are big Much of the current antivaccine ensuring that remedies sold to the business, and the voice of providers is sentiment in public discourse results public are both safe and effective. In never far from the ear of government. from widely publicized (and now dis- recent years, however, Health Canada While patients are free to make health credited) pseudo-scientific reports of has allowed various natural health decisions, government has a duty to adverse outcomes. The 1998 claim by products to enter the market without ensure that false or misleading claims UK Dr Andrew Wakefield requiring rigorous proof of effective- do not interfere with consumers’ that the MMR vaccine caused ness. Indeed, there are many remedies ability to make an informed choice. contributed to a collapse in uptake of and homeopathic preparations cur- Nowhere is the case more clear than in MMR vaccine in the UK3 and a sub- rently licensed for sale that do not the realm of unproven vaccines for sequent surge in rubella cases in unim- contain any of the allegedly active serious illnesses. When it comes to munized children. ingredient. A number of these are homeopathic vaccines, Health Cana- Experts estimate that herd immu- homeo pathic “nosodes.” These are da needs to stop diluting its standards. nity is achieved when 95% of a popu- ultradilute (typically diluted far be- —Lloyd Oppel, MD lation has been immunized. Canadian yond the point where anything is left Chair, Council on immunization rates have fallen in except solvent) preparations of infec- Health Promotion tious agents or infected tissue, and are This article is the opinion of the Council on administered as an “oral vaccine.”7 References Health Promotion and has not been peer Although real vaccines use low doses 1. Canadian Public Health Association. The reviewed by the BCMJ Editorial Board. of part of an infectious agent to pre- Continued on page 202

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Continued from page 201 5. Lunau K, Patriquin M. Asking for an out- Product information page. Accessed 17 Value of Immunization in the Future of break of preventable diseases. Mac - March 2013. http://homeocan.ca/html/ Canada’s Health System. Submission to lean’s. 9 January 2012. Accessed 19 prod_influenzinum_eng.html. the Commission on the Future of Health March 2013. www2.macleans.ca/2012/ 10. Health Canada. Drugs and Health Prod- Care in Canada. Accessed 26 March 01/09/asking-for-an-outbreak/. ucts. Tegor Bio 88 (poliomyleitis). Acces - 2013. http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/ 6. Downey L, et al. Pediatric and sed 9 April 2013. http://bit.ly/17rkXHG. 236420/publication.html. vaccine-preventable disease acquisition: 11. Health Canada. Drugs and Health Prod- 2. Immunize Canada. Accessed 17 March Associations with care by complementa- ucts. Morbillinum. Accessed 9 April 2013. 2013. www.immunize.ca. ry and alternative medicine providers. http://bit.ly/152kZXm. 3. Jha A. Struck off MMR doctor handed Matern Child Health J 2010;14:922-930. 12. Health Canada. Drugs and Health Prod- award for ‘lifetime achievement in quack- 7. Homeopathic Online Education. Nosodes ucts. Pertussinium. Accessed 9 April ery.’ . 23 December 2012. in . Accessed 20 March 2013. http://bit.ly/10KmH9M. Accessed 20 March 2013. www.guard 2013. www.simillimum.com/education/ 13. Health Canada. Drugs and Health Prod- ian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/23/struck little-library/constitution-temperaments ucts. About Natural Health Products. -off-mmr-doctor--award. -and-miasms/nih/article.php. How do I know if a product has been 4. ImmunizeBC. Olympic bound? Make 8. Health Canada. Drugs and Health Prod- authorized? Accessed 20 March 2013. sure your measles vaccination is up to ucts. Accessed 17 March 2013. http:// http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/ date! Accessed 17 March 2013. http:// bit.ly/10PB0Kz. prodnatur/about-apropos/cons-eng immunizebc.ca/tags/measles. 9. Homeocan. Influenzinum flu prevention: .php#a4. worksafebc

How to get help from a WorkSafeBC medical advisor

f you require assistance with med- form, so your query is more likely to Medical advisors will not be able ical issues pertaining to patients be addressed by checking the request to assist you with questions concern- Iwho are injured workers, Work- box and indicating your specific need ing non-medical claim-related issues, SafeBC medical advisors are avail- on the form. such as billing or claim adjudication. able for consultation throughout the Phone the nearest WorkSafe BC However, if you are not sure who you province. office and ask to speak with a medical should contact for claim-related ques- Here are two ways you can reach advisor, or contact the medical advi- tions, you can ask a medical advisor. a WorkSafeBC medical advisor: sor directly. You can also contact a We have noticed that some elec- Indicate on your Form 8/11 that medical advisor if you have yet to tronic medical records systems are you wish to be contacted. Under the receive a timely call following a re - defaulted to automatically check the “Return-to-Work Planning” box, check quest for consultation on your Form box requesting consultation with a “yes” in response to the question, “Do 8/11. Refer to the directory on the medical advisor. Please check your you wish to consult with a WCB Phy - following page, which lists the names, forms and, if possible, turn off this sician or Nurse Advisor?” In the clin- addresses, and phone numbers of default setting so you don’t receive ical section of the form, briefly outline medical advisors throughout BC. any unnecessary calls. the nature of your request. For exam- Remember that telephone calls To reach any WorkSafeBC med- ple, indicate whether you’re looking with WorkSafeBC personnel are bill- ical advisor you can also call the for an expedited MRI, a rehabilitation able, provided they advance your central medical services desk at 604 program, or disability management. patient’s care or claim. Use billing 244-6224 for the advisor’s phone Medical advisors do not see every code 19508 when you speak with a number and any other necessary con- medical advisor, or billing code 19930 tact information. This article is the opinion of WorkSafeBC in discussions with other WorkSafe- —Peter Rothfels, MD and has not been peer reviewed by the BC officers. Chief Medical Officer and Director, BCMJ Editorial Board. Clinical Services, WorkSafeBC

202 BC MEDICAL JOURNAL VOL. 55 NO. 4, MAY 2013 www.bcmj.org