Your Questions about Kids Vaccines Answered

The pandemic changed the way many people think about vaccines — especially parents. Whether you’re more vigilant about your child’s vaccinations or you now question every one, there’s a free service that can help.

MIIKOVAC is a vaccination counselling service that offers reliable, up-to-date, science-based vaccine information to help parents choose what's right for their families.

“Parents are often afraid of being judged and do not dare to ask questions about their child's immunization,” says Dr. Arnaud Gagneur, a neonatologist and vaccine hesitancy researcher at the Université de Sherbrooke. “This service provides parents access to an individual immunization counsellor who will answer all their questions in a non-judgmental and caring manner.”

How does MIIKOVAC work?

If you have questions about any childhood vaccine or immunization schedule and don’t know who or how to ask, visit CANVax.ca/MIIKOVAC and simply hit “Get Started.”

There is a brief survey to complete regarding your questions and concerns. Once that’s done, you can book a free, online one-on-one consultation with an immunization counsellor.

What is the video appointment like? 

Trained counsellors use a technique called motivational interviewing, a communication style that helps guide people toward making decisions by addressing their concerns, uncertainties and anxieties. Counsellors share science-backed information about vaccines, without pushing vaccination or shaming you for the choices you’ve made or plan to make. Any information you share will remain confidential.

“The role of the counsellors is to respond to parents’ concerns and provide them with the relevant information they need to help them make their own decisions regarding their children's immunization,” says Dr. Gagneur.

What else should I know?

MIIKOVAC, which stands for “Motivational Interviewing to Increase Knowledge about Vaccination”, is part of a pilot project to see if this service meets the population’s needs.

MIIKOVAC is a partnership between Centre de recherche du CHUS, the Canadian Vaccination Evidence Resource and Exchange Centre (CANVax), Immunize Canada, and the Canadian Public Health Association.

Try MIIKOVAC now.