Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
February 15, 2024 - 7:00 PM
Getting a measles vaccine can't be a last minute decision for anyone wanting to travel to high risk parts of the world like the United Kingdom.
That’s because in order to be fully effective two doses of the vaccine are needed and they have to be at least four weeks apart, according to Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Fatemeh Sabet.
Once two doses are received, people are immune for life and the vaccine is 95% to 97% effective.
While there haven't been any cases in BC so far this year, the high number of cases in Europe and elsewhere means it’s just a matter of time and given falling vaccination rates in the Interior Health region it could spread rapidly.
“Measles infections can be transmitted very easily to others because the mode of transmission is what we call air born,” Dr. Sabet told iNFOnews.ca, Feb. 15. “It can stay alive in very small particles in the air. Even after a person leaves a place there are still particles in the air that can transmit the disease to others.”
Childhood immunization in two-year-olds has dropped to 58.5% in the health region from 85% in 2020. The target is 90%.
Rates are even lower for seven-year-olds at 56.3%. That target rate is 70%.
READ MORE: Dramatic drop in Interior Health measles immunization rate has officials worried
“In the United Kingdom, there was increased activity at the end of last year and beginning of this year,” Dr. Sabet said. “Usually this activity happens in pockets of populations that are not fully vaccinated. It can just be a travel related introduction of measles into these pockets and then further transmission within the community.”
People born before 1970 are considered to be immune from measles because there were much higher rates of the disease in that population.
Immunization programs started after 1970 but people need to check that they got two doses properly spaced.
“It’s very important for everyone to get vaccinated,” Dr. Sabet said.
“We have noticed some decrease in the number of childhood immunizations in Interior Health and we have started this campaign to protect our children and, in future, our population from different types of infectious diseases that can be prevented by vaccines and provide more information, to provide spaces for people to ask their questions and have access to accurate information about vaccinations.
“We know that a lot of false information has been in circulation, specifically during the COVID pandemic. It is very important for people to access accurate information.”
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are usually combined but other vaccines for preventable diseases like whooping cough are taken separately, so those immunization records also need to be checked.
Learn more here.
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