Nursing Clinic at the Judith Fisher Centre

Email: LasquetiHealthCentre@gmail.com

Dianne’s cell: 250-240-5712 | Clinic phone: 250-333-8891

 

Local as well as international news has been reporting a recent increase in measles cases worldwide. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness. Symptoms include fever, malaise, rash, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis. It occurs worldwide and remains endemic in areas with low vaccination rates, particularly in resource-limited settings.

   

Persons born after 1970 will have less memory of this disease as immunization was introduced in the late 1960’s radically decreasing clinical cases.  Due to a number of global factors that have caused the disruption of childhood immunizations there has been an increase in this extremely contagious disease. Measles and its sequel can cause serious illness. Groups at increased risk for complications of measles include immune-compromised patients, pregnant women, and individuals with vitamin A deficiency, poor nutritional status, and the extremes of age.

   

Vaccination is known to be the best defense. The following is information obtained from Island Health’s Medical Officer of Health newsletter of March 2024.

• ·Vaccination is very effective for long-lasting protection against infection (85-95% after 1 dose, ~98% after 2 doses)

• 2 dose series routinely given at 1 year and 4-6 years of age; ~10% of 7 year olds have not received any doses

• Eligibility (complete details at bit.ly/BCCDCMMR)

• Born before January 1, 1970: likely immune through prior infection, eligible for 1 dose if no history of measles vaccination nor disease

• Born on/after January 1, 1970: eligible for 2 doses of measles vaccine in a lifetime

• Infants age 6 months - 1 year can receive an early extra dose if travelling to area with measles transmission

• Parents/guardians of eligible children can access the local health unit (islandhealth.ca/our-locations/health-unit-locations), adults to bcpharmacy.ca/pharmacy-services/mmr or health unit.

• Public Health is going into select schools for kindergarten and grade 1 catch-up.

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I would encourage anyone who has not been vaccinated or is unaware of their immunity to this disease to reach out and obtain the information needed to keep yourself and those around you free from ever contracting it.

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Best, dianne