Parents in Manitoba are advised to immunize their children against measles prior to the commencement of the new school year

As students in Manitoba prepare to return to class next week, health officials are urging parents to ensure their children are up-to-date with their measles vaccinations. The province has recorded 187 confirmed measles cases this year, highlighting the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates, particularly in a classroom setting.

Measles, known as the most infectious virus, can linger in the air for up to two hours and potentially infect individuals who enter the room later. This makes schools a potential hotspot for the spread of the disease, especially in areas with low vaccination rates.

Younger children are more susceptible to side effects from the measles vaccine, such as fever, feeling sick, and becoming irritable. However, Natalie Casaclang, Manitoba's Medical Officer of Health, emphasizes the importance of getting a measles containing vaccine to protect against extreme illness from measles. The first dose of the measles vaccine is recommended when a child is at least one year old, and the second dose happens between the ages of four and six.

In 2020, the measles vaccination rate for children seven years of age in Manitoba was 74.3 per cent, but this figure dropped to 65.4 per cent in 2023. The lowest provincial vaccination rate in 2023 is in Manitoba's Southern Health Region, which is 53.3 per cent.

Dawn Bowdish, a medicine professor at McMaster University, emphasizes the importance of increasing vaccination rates to protect not just individual children, but the entire community. She notes that the interaction between children in a classroom setting can facilitate the rapid spread of measles in unvaccinated communities.

For parents who want to get their children vaccinated against measles, the province's website provides comprehensive information. It's crucial to ensure that children are protected, not just for their own health, but also to prevent the spread of the disease in schools and the wider community.

Natalie Casaclang reiterates the importance of keeping kids up-to-date on their measles shots, stating that getting a measles containing vaccine can protect against extreme illness from measles. She urges parents to prioritize their children's health and the health of their school communities by ensuring they are fully vaccinated against measles.

As students return to class next week, it's essential to remember the potential risks of measles outbreaks in schools with low vaccination rates. By ensuring children are vaccinated, we can help protect them, their classmates, and the wider community from this highly infectious disease.

Parents in Manitoba are advised to immunize their children against measles prior to the commencement of the new school year