Low measles vaccination rates in parts of British Columbia are a cause for concern, with outbreaks in B.C. and several other provinces across Canada.
Childhood vaccinations rates have been falling recently in BC. In 2023, the percentage of 7 year-olds who were vaccinated fell to 72 per cent.
Northeast BC has seen fourth lowest vaccination rate across the province at 68.8 per cent. In contrast, the Northern Interior region’s rate for 7 year–olds who received the vaccine in 2023 was 80.8 per cent.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that is preventable with vaccines. It has been spreading through Canada and the U.S. in recent months. Hundreds of cases have been confirmed, and two people have died, one of whom was a child.
Medical experts say that children should receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age, and again between 4 and 6 years of age before going to school. The vaccine’s two doses are 97% effective in preventing measles and protecting against the virus for life.
It is not just children who are susceptible to the measles. People who were born after 1970 and have received fewer than two doses of the measles vaccine should monitor for symptoms. Symptoms include a high fever and a red spot-like rash that begins on the face and could appear a few days after exposure
Dr. Emily Newhouse, a medical health officer with the Fraser Health Authority, said that people often assume they received both doses of the measles vaccine as children, but many have missed the important second dose.
“I think what does worry us is that we don’t see measles vaccination rates as high as they need to be to prevent transmission fully. For measles, it’s extremely infectious. So if you have a bunch of people who are unvaccinated and a case of measles walks in, the vast majority of them will become infected,” Newhouse said.
Newhouse said in order for measles not to take hold and spread, 95 per cent of people need to have immunity, either because they have had measles before or they are vaccinated.
Next door in Alberta, there are 11 confirmed cases of the measles, prompting doctors and medical experts in that province to highlight major concerns over low vaccination rates for the virus.
“Measles is an avoidable illness and is not caught by those adequately vaccinated,” said Richard Owen, associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta.
“This is a sad situation in a country where measles not long ago was effectively eradicated. This is the consequence of a falling vaccination rate. Our government need to do more and urge the population to get vaccinated.”
With files from CTV Vancouver, CTV News and The Canadian Press