Measles Vaccine Urged for Susceptible Residents

Published on: 2015/02/10 - in Featured Releases

Dr Ian Gemmill, Medical Officer of Health for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, is urging residents who are susceptible to measles to be immunized against this disease.

This recommendation is being made because of the increased activity of measles in Toronto and in Niagara Region in Ontario, and reports of possible cases in the province of Quebec.

“Measles is a serious childhood illness, but it is almost completely preventable with two doses of measles vaccine,” said Dr Gemmill. “Measles has the potential to cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis in some children, but such complications largely have disappeared since measles has been eliminated in Canada over the last two decades. The new activity in Ontario does not pose an immediate risk, but it is an important reminder for people who have not received both doses of measles vaccine to complete this series of immunization.”

Residents are being asked to check their immunization against measles. Any resident born after 1970 should ensure they have received two doses of measles-containing vaccine. Most people born before 1970 will have had measles disease and are immune.

The following people are recommended to have two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine:

  • Non-immune health care workers,
  • Travelers, and
  • Military personnel.

Call your family physician or visit a KFL&A Public Health clinic to get the measles vaccine. Drop-in immunization clinics are held Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Kingston office of KFL&A Public Health at 221 Portsmouth Avenue, or residents can book an appointment online for a Wednesday clinic appointment.

Measles is a highly infectious and serious disease that spreads easily from person to person. Some of the symptoms of measles include:

  • fever, cough and runny nose,
  • red, irritated eyes and light sensitivity,
  • small white, grey or blue spots in the mouth, and
  • red, blotchy rash, which is the last symptom to appear. The rash appears on the face and then spreads down over the body, and will begin to fade after about a week.

To reduce the risk to others, if residents develop symptoms the following advice should be followed:

  • Stay home and don’t allow others to visit for at least four days after the rash starts.
  • Contact your health care provider by phone. Important: If you need to visit a health care provider, call first and tell them you have measles symptoms.

“This outbreak is a reminder that measles can return if we let our immunization against it slip,” said Dr Gemmill. “It is important that everyone use this opportunity to check their immunization records to assure themselves that they and their children are up-to-date with their measles vaccine, and if not, to complete their series as soon as practicable.”

For more information about measles, how it is spread and how to prevent it, please visit KFL&A Public Health’s website and access the Health Information Sheet on measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.


Release source: KFL&A Public Health | PhotoBlake Patterson (cc)

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