FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 November 2025
QUEEN’S PARK – Today, Dr. Adil Shamji, MPP for Don Valley East and the Ontario Liberal Critic for Primary Care, Urgent Care and Public Health, held a press conference reminding Ontarians of the benefits of getting vaccinated.
Each year, the arrival of autumn brings cooler temperatures and increased circulation of respiratory viruses, which tend to spread more readily as families come together for holiday gatherings.
“Conversations with a healthcare professional represent one of the most important factors in whether people choose to get vaccinated. However, while 2.5 million people don’t have a family doctor and another 2 million live more than 30 kilometers away from theirs, many Ontarians are having difficulty staying caught up with vaccines,” said Shamji.
“As a doctor, it’s apparent that most people who haven’t been vaccinated aren’t anti-vaccine or vaccine-resistant — they often just haven’t gotten around to it or still have a few questions. That’s where high-quality primary care close to home should come in,” Shamji continued.
Last year marked a severe influenza season that was followed by outbreaks of measles across the province, which contributed to our country’s loss of measles elimination status. Furthermore, despite once being on track to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, which is vaccine-preventable, Ontario is now at serious risk of falling short of that goal.
“We are seeing the effects of declining vaccination in our province. This is especially worrisome as respiratory season intensifies, which can threaten to overwhelm hospitals and take too many lives.
“I’m urging Ontarians to speak with their doctor about getting vaccinated — especially for influenza and COVID-19, which pose higher risks for older adults and people with underlying conditions. I’m also encouraging older Ontarians to make sure they’re up to date on other key respiratory vaccines, including for RSV, pneumonia, and whooping cough,” said Shamji.
Vaccination saves lives but also hundreds of millions of dollars for our healthcare system, in additional to preserving billions in economic productivity.
“The best way to protect ourselves, each other, and our healthcare system is to talk to a healthcare professional and get vaccinated,” Shamji concluded.
For more information
Lorne Levy | (416) 931-8384 | [email protected]