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I remembered my elderly patient, who relied on crutches for his shrivelled and paralyzed legs after contracting polio as a child. He talked about the pain and disability that he endured through much of his life. He also spoke with joy about how his grandchildren would never have to share in his experience, as they had been vaccinated. To him, it was nothing short of a miracle that within his lifetime, the condition with which he had suffered had essentially been stamped out in Canada.

Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP/Getty Images

I remembered how worried a young cancer patient and his parents were when we spoke about the recent measles outbreaks. As a result of his treatments, he could not be fully vaccinated and was at high risk for contracting measles and a number of other preventable diseases. Birthday parties, sports events and even trips to the grocery store all suddenly became high-risk; risks that forced his family to debate each and every outing and limit his childhood.

I reflected on the parents I had seen who were loving and caring, but who decided not to vaccinate their children. I reflected on the mounds of information and misinformation that parents often must navigate when making decisions for their children. My heart ached for the families who tried to navigate the maze of internet forums and came away with conspiracy theories and snake oil, and it broke for those who, as a result, had to experience the pain of a preventable illness.