Nova Scotians urged to get measles vaccine

Health professionals encourage Canadians to get the measles vaccine – to protect themselves and our smallest citizens.

There’s a push on for Nova Scotians to roll up their sleeves and get the measles vaccine.

“We know that two doses of measles containing vaccine offers over 97 per cent protection for life,” said Dr. Catherine Brown, chief medical officer of health for Nova Scotia’s central zone.

Brown says there are currently no active cases in the province. There was one case back in May, but Brown says that person has recovered without transmitting the virus to anyone else.

Six babies in Ontario have been born with congenital measles since last fall, Ontario’s top doctor says their mothers were not vaccinated.

“We have to renew our efforts to try to vaccinate our communities to address some of the questions that they have,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “This is preventable and we have a very safe and effective vaccine.”

Those six infants have recovered but the potential for lasting complications exists.

“Children, especially babies who get measles, are the highest risk of measles complications, so that can include ear infections, pneumonia, but also more serious things like blindness, infection of the brain, and in rare cases, death,” said Brown.

She says the decision to not get vaccinated is usually due to convenience, complacency or confidence.

“I think, as long as there have been vaccines out there have been people questioning the vaccine you know. I think it’s good to ask questions, we want people to make informed decisions about their health,” said Brown.

Those who showed up at the mobile vaccination clinic in Bedford Monday said they are glad the service has come to them.

“If there’s a vaccine available for anything that’s going to affect us, our health, I’m all for it,” said Carol Longue-MacDonald.

In the 1930s, 40s and 50s, Brown says there were up to 50,000 measles cases a year in the country. After the move to two doses in the 1990s, measles achieved elimination status in Canada.

The measles vaccine is not recommended for babies under six months of age, anyone who is pregnant, or immuno-compromised.

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