The B.C. government is taking steps to help families ensure their children are protected from measles.
"With outbreaks of measles occurring globally and here in B.C., we know we will see threats of further outbreaks and can be doing more to raise immunization rates," Adrian Dix, Minister of Health says in a release. "That is why we are launching a catch-up program to immunize children from kindergarten to Grade 12 who have not previously been immunized against measles and to provide a dose for those who may not have received both doses.
The province says the catch-up program will run from April through June 2019.
Dix adds the goal is to immunize as many people as possible before the end of the current school year, reaching the recommended immunization rate of 95 per cent.
The program will be made available in schools to children (Kindergarten to Grade 12), public health units, community health centres as well as community clinics in some regions.
The government will purchase $3 million of vaccine to start, which equals a one year supply.
Catch up on immunizations! Running from April to June, the measles immunization catch up program will be offered through local health authorities for children who may be unimmunized or not fully immunized for measles. https://t.co/laqQLjIjkc @cdcofbc @ImmunizeBC #bchealth pic.twitter.com/ULQhZEgP5R
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) March 20, 2019
"Very few people in B.C. are against all vaccinations," Dr. Brian Emerson, deputy provincial health officer says. "Due to a variety of other factors, measles immunization rates in B.C. are lower than they should be to ensure herd immunity."
Without having a record of immunizations or proof of immunity to a disease, a person is considered unimmunized and unprotected and should generally be immunized or re-immunized to ensure they are protected.
It is safe to repeat immunizations.
In the Northern Health Authority specifically, In-school immunization clinics are offered to grades Kindergarten to 12 with an emphasis on the second dose of measles for kindergarten, grade one and grade two.
There will be increased public health clinics and a review of all records of school children, with reminder phone calls/letters to parents or guardians of anyone that is not up to date with their immunizations.
Measles are a highly infectious disease that spreads through air and close contact is not needed for transmission. The disease can also be spread through sharing food, drinks, cigarettes or kissing an infected person.
