logo
Measles vaccination rate inadequate, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer says

Measles vaccination rate inadequate, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer says

Yahoo10-07-2025
Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health says the rate of measles vaccination in the province is inadequate.
Dr. Robert Strang said the latest numbers from 2024 show 93 per cent of two-year-olds at that time had had at least one dose of the measles vaccine and 79 per cent had two doses. The vaccine is recommended for babies at 12 months and 18 months.
"We're doing OK because those are underestimates," Strang said Wednesday. "And we know some of that 93 per cent — maybe [there was] just a delay [and] they didn't get their second dose until after they were two and they're still fully immunized. But there's more we need to do."
This week, Nova Scotia Health reported one lab-confirmed case of measles in Pictou County and said it expects there to be more. The health authority said the case is believed to be related to travel within Canada to an area with known measles cases. Nova Scotia's first lab-confirmed case of 2025, in May, involved a person who had travelled to the U.S.
Strang said even if the 2024 provincial numbers don't include every child who had the shot, the percentages need to be higher to fully prevent the spread of measles, which is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread.
When asked about the fact that 21 per cent of two-year-olds in Nova Scotia haven't been fully vaccinated, Strang said that's in part due to the impact of the pandemic, vaccination misinformation and challenges accessing primary care.
He said Public Health has increased the number of clinics for families without a primary care provider.
"In the last few months, with a focus on measles vaccine, we've immunized 5,000 to 6,000 Nova Scotians getting them up to date with their measles vaccine. So there's lots of good things happening, but we need to continue these efforts."
Strang said measles outbreaks show the importance of vaccinations.
"Vaccines prevent disease," he said.
Nova Scotia Health describes measles as a "very contagious viral infection that can cause serious illness." It says most cases occur in unvaccinated people who travel to places where measles cases are happening.
Symptoms of measles include:
Fever.
A red blotchy rash on the face that spreads down the body.
Cough, runny nose, red eyes.
Small white spots that may show up inside the mouth and throat.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, a measles infection can sometimes result in hospitalization.
Older adults who likely had measles as children have natural immunity, Strang said.
Anyone born between 1970 and 1996 may have received only one vaccine, so it's recommended those people get a booster.
MORE TOP STORIES
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Measles case reported in Santa Fe County
Measles case reported in Santa Fe County

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Measles case reported in Santa Fe County

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Another measles case has been confirmed in New Mexico with possible exposure in the metro. The New Mexico Department of Health said an unvaccinated 10-year-old in Santa Fe County contracted the virus during a trip out of the country. People may have been exposed at Cliff's Amusement Park in Albuquerque on July 17. Research sheds light on bacteria outbreak that killed 1 person, several ABQ BioPark Zoo primates That brings the total number of measles cases in the state to 96. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword

New Mexico school districts prepare for measles cases ahead of return to classroom
New Mexico school districts prepare for measles cases ahead of return to classroom

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

New Mexico school districts prepare for measles cases ahead of return to classroom

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico's measles outbreak has now grown to nearly 100 cases statewide, and just weeks away from the start of the school year, there's concern about the possibility of more cases. The latest measles case was found in an unvaccinated child under 10 years old in Santa Fe County. Nearly half the cases have been in patients under 18 years old. 'A three-week waiting period to watch for symptoms that might develop takes us right into the start of the school year,' said Dr. Mark DiMenna, City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department Deputy Director. Story continues below Education: APS Board members respond after vulgar text messages sent during board meeting Trending: Working group offers recommendations for AI use in schools to NM lawmakers News: Metropolitan Detention Center reports 6th inmate death this year While the vast majority have been found in southern New Mexico, Santa Fe County reported its first case this week, which is something the school district is watching out for. 'Of course, if someone came to school that had a rash of unknown origin or a rash with a fever, we would be immediately isolating them and sending them for a higher level of care,' said Myrna Barbee-Lee, Santa Fe Public Schools lead nurse. There are exceptions for religious beliefs or medical conditions, but all New Mexico students are required to get both doses of the measles vaccine to attend class. If there is exposure at a school, patients can expect to get an official notification. They're remaining parents that even if their child is vaccinated, they can still contract the virus. 'Whether the child is vaccinated or not, pay attention when the school is putting out notifications that there's been a measles exposure at school, or a sports venue, where the kids have been at where they could have been exposed – watch for those symptoms and take them seriously,' said Dr. DiMenna. While Bernalillo County has not seen its first case of measles, several patients the state has tracked have spent time in Albuquerque, including in stores, the Albuquerque International Sunport, and other businesses. The University of New Mexico Hospital is helping coordinate several back-to-school vaccination clinics statewide in the lead-up to school starting. To find a clinic, click this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword

Speed cams have cut speeding around Toronto schools nearly in half, new study finds
Speed cams have cut speeding around Toronto schools nearly in half, new study finds

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Speed cams have cut speeding around Toronto schools nearly in half, new study finds

Automated speed cameras have reduced speeding around Toronto school zones by nearly half, according to a new study. The study, published in the journal Injury Prevention and led by researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto Metropolitan University, looked at the effect of automated speed enforcement cameras deployed across 250 school zones around Toronto from July 2020 to December 2022. Looking at speeding data in these areas before and after speed cameras were installed, it found that cameras have reduced the proportion of speeding vehicles in urban school zones by 45 per cent. "We had a very substantial reduction in the speed of the traffic, more than we were expecting to see," said the study's lead author, Dr. Andrew Howard, who is also head of orthopedic surgery for The Hospital for Sick Children. "And what was especially pleasing about that was that the faster the cars were going, the greater the reduction in speed." While the proportion of drivers going 10 km/h over the speed limits decreased by 74 per cent, the study found the proportion of drivers going 15 km/h over the limit decreased by 84 per cent. Drivers going 20 km/h or more over the limit fell by 88 per cent, the study found. The study used pneumatic tubes, which are laid across the road and sense passing cars, to measure speeds in school zones before cameras were said every kilometre per hour counts in a collision. "Little reductions in speed mean big reductions in kinetic energy. [That] can mean a difference, literally, between life and death at the type of urban speeds that we're looking at," he said. "So getting that dangerous kinetic energy out of school zones is very important, and this is very promising." The study noted that research was done in the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, during "unprecedented disruptions" such as school closures, lockdowns and "significant changes in transportation patterns." "These factors may have affected vehicle speed and volume," read the study. "The observed results, however, strongly argue that [automated speed enforcement] was the primary factor in the speed reductions." Howard said he hopes reduced speeds in these zones will encourage more children to walk to school, helping to foster a habit of daily physical activity in their lives, which decreases many health risks in old age. "That's the single most important thing that you can do for this population of kids to make them healthier," he said. "And what we do know is that if you've got more cars going fast around schools, you will have less children walking." Speed cameras still prompting debate, vandalism Nearly three-quarters of Ontarians support the use of automated speed enforcement, according to a recent CAA study. It also found 76 per cent of respondents believe cameras deter speeding. Still, speed cameras in the city have been the source of much debate and backlash. Earlier this year, Toronto doubled the number of automated speed cameras it uses to 150. But there have been 25 cases of vandalism to speed cameras between 2024 and July 23, 2025, the city told CBC Toronto earlier this week. Eleven of the city's cameras were vandalized in the first week of July alone, including one on Parkside Drive that's been cut down six times in eight months. WATCH | Toronto speed cameras keep getting vandalized: Anthony Perruzza, city councillor for Humber River-Black Creek, has said the city's speed camera program should be put on hold until September, calling them "speed traps." He later said he would work with Mayor Olivia Chow on amendments to a city report to the infrastructure committee on Vision Zero, Toronto's road safety strategy. Council passed a motion last month to install larger, more visible signage around speed cameras, something Perruzza had been calling for. Later this year, a city committee will consider limiting how many tickets a driver can receive from a single camera before they get their first ticket in the mail. The installation of speed cameras in school zones is part of Toronto's Vision Zero strategy, created in 2016 to eliminate all traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store