Average number of cases reported annually in Canada during the five years before routine vaccine use, or the closest possible five years where stable reporting was occurring.

Some numbers are subject to change as reports are updated.



Data sources: Measles and rubella data were obtained from the Canadian Measles and Rubella Surveillance System, while data for all other diseases was obtained from the Canadian Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.

For whooping cough (pertussis), the five years prior to vaccine use in Canada were defined as 1938 to 1942; the whole cell pertussis vaccine was authorized in Canada in 1943.

The five years used for the pre-vaccine era were defined as 1950-1954 for measles, mumps and rubella. This is due to the fact that these diseases were temporarily suspended from national surveillance for varying time periods between 1959 and 1985, with declines in physician reporting in the years leading up to 1959. Mumps and rubella vaccines were authorized in Canada in 1969 and measles live vaccine was authorized in 1963.

For polio, the five years prior to routine vaccine use in Canada were defined as 1950-1954; the vaccine was introduced in 1955.

For diphtheria, the five years prior to routine vaccine use in Canada were defined as 1925-1929; the vaccine was routinely used beginning in 1930.

