Quach and colleagues have formulated an interesting article on influenza vaccination coverage across ethnic groups in Canada.1 However, the authors missed perhaps the most important factor in vaccination status: length of time since one’s arrival or his or her ancestors’ arrival in Canada. This factor would correlate strongly with first-hand or familial experience with infectious disease in either one’s country of origin in the developing world or in suboptimal conditions as a result of war, or as a refugee. Generally, people who have seen first-hand the devastating and often lethal effects of infectious disease are eager to receive vaccinations for themselves, their children and grandchildren — especially when vaccinations are without cost. Except for the Aboriginal population, which was not easily identified or measured in this study,1 white people and black people have been in Canada longer than almost every other group. They have the least experience with and memory of disease, pestilence and plague.
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