(The Canadian Press)

By Nigel Maxwell

Getting vaccinated

Concern for measles outbreak in Sask. remains low according to Health Authority

Feb 22, 2019 | 12:54 PM

A recent outbreak of the measles in Vancouver is being watched with keen interest by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), but the SHA’s medical director for immunizations and travel health, believes the risk for an outbreak in Saskatchewan remains low.

Tania Diener said the coverage rate in the province is quite high. In January, 2018, 92 per cent of two-year-olds were vaccinated, and 90 per cent of five-year-olds had two doses.

“To prevent an outbreak you need 85 to 94 per cent of coverage. So there are definitely areas where we can improve but we hope that our higher immunization coverage will prevent it from getting to Saskatchewan,” she said, adding no one is completely immune from measles.

In Saskatchewan, a child’s first dose for the vaccine comes at 12 months, followed by a second dose at 18 months. Diener said immunizations are generally provided at a public health office but physicians are encouraged to talk to their patients about vaccination.

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According to a recent Angus Reid poll, one quarter of respondents said they did not feel the science around vaccines was clear. Diener said it’s unfortunate so many people are misinformed.

“We are aware that many years ago there was an article that linked measles vaccine to autism and inflammatory bowel disease. That article appeared in the Lancet. It was retracted and it was termed as false information,” she said.

The last case of measles in Saskatchewan occurred in 2014. Diener encouraged people who are planning to travel to talk to their doctors about vaccinations.Travel vaccines are not covered by the province directly but may be covered by some travel insurance providers. There is no cost for the measles vaccine.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell