Many families faced disruptions in accessing routine health care, including scheduled immunizations, during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence of missed vaccinations, measles – a highly contagious disease that was once considered eliminated in Canada – has now re-emerged, with cases rising in BC.
Catching up on missed vaccinations is important because measles can cause much more than a rash and fever. It can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), hearing loss, and even death.
Unvaccinated individuals are at the highest risk of getting measles. This includes children under 12 months who are too young for routine vaccination and must rely on the “community immunity" that comes from the people around them being vaccinated. People with weakened immune systems, and those who are pregnant, also face a higher risk of serious illness from measles.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your children, and your community from measles and to stop outbreaks before they start. Vaccinations are free. If you are in community, contact your community health nurse. If you cannot be vaccinated in community, vaccines are provided at public health units and pharmacies throughout the province.
If you were born after 1970, you should ensure you have received two doses of a measle-containing vaccine. One dose is not enough. If you are not sure of your / your children's immunization status, you can check this through the BC Health Gateway.
Measles typically begins with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
If you have symptoms suggestive of measles, call ahead before visiting a clinic. Measles spreads through the air, even after a sick person leaves the room. So, if just one person with measles comes into a community with low vaccination rates, it can spread quickly.
We each have a part in keeping our communities safe. Please click on the following links to keep informed, and share this information with other community members.
For more information, or to speak with a nurse, contact your local community health centre or visit HealthLink BC's website.
For more information about measles, cases, and exposures in BC, visit the FNHA's website and the BC Centre for Disease Control's website.
