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Toronto Sun
29-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Almost 70% of Canadians surveyed want child vaccines to be mandatory: Poll
Published May 29, 2025 • 1 minute read Priscilla Luna holds her 3 year-old daughter Avery Dahl, while she gets the MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. Photo by Jan Sonnenmair / Getty Images A new poll suggests nearly 70 per cent of Canadians support mandatory childhood vaccinations. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Angus Reid Institute survey comes as a measles outbreak touches several provinces, primarily infecting unvaccinated infants, kids and teens. The poll of almost 1,700 Canadians found 69 per cent of respondents between May 20 and 23 said proof of immunization should be required for kids to attend daycare and school. That's an increase from the 55 per cent of respondents who said the same thing last year, before the outbreak began. Last week, Ontario reported nearly 1,800 measles cases had emerged since October. Alberta reported 628 cases on Wednesday. Proof of vaccination is mandatory for kids to attend school in Ontario and New Brunswick, unless they have a valid exemption, but that's not the case across the country. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. Half of respondents in Ontario and Alberta said they believed more should be done to control the outbreak at all levels of health management, from the premier to the chief medical officer of health. The percentage of respondents who favoured proof of vaccination was slightly lower in Alberta, at 60 per cent, but higher than the 48 per cent of Albertans who supported a mandate last year. The poll found 37 per cent of respondents in Alberta said they had no confidence in their provincial government's response to measles, while 30 per cent said the same in Saskatchewan and 27 per cent said that in Ontario. A Canadian Journal of Public Health article published in October 2024 found approximately 76 per cent of seven-year-olds were vaccinated against measles in 2023, down from just over 86 per cent in 2019. Read More Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Canada Ontario Celebrity
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What the Trump White House Is Doing to Our Kids' Health
A family supports a young child as he receives the MMR vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1 in Lubbock, Texas. Credit - Jan Sonnenmair—Getty Images In March 2025, it was announced that the U.S. would no longer support international public health programs that vaccinated millions of children worldwide. This is a hit to children worldwide on top of the Trump administration cuts to U.S. AID programs that provided basic nutrition for hundreds of thousands of children worldwide. One may interpret these directives as a reflection that the current U.S. political leadership no longer believes that the U.S. has an obligation to non-American children. But one only needs to look at what is happening in the U.S. now to see that the lack of care for children at home, as the administration signals to cut the Vaccines for Children program, which supports disease-preventative efforts in the U.S. Examining what has evolved from the culture wars of the past several years, one sees a slew of policies detrimental to children in many ways. Rather than reflecting mainstream pediatric and educational philosophy, these policies mirror the political creep of fringe groups and politicians to impose their viewpoints on other people's children. These policies impact infection control, education, nutrition, healthcare, and the environment. Front-page news is now dotted with reports of a resurgence in vaccine-preventable infections, including measles. But contrary to some, vaccinations have never been a matter of personal choice in this country, but rather a 100-year-old societal obligation to keep America safe. In fact, the majority of Americans support childhood vaccination (about 70%), according to a January 2025 report by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC). Yet, the measles outbreaks happening across the U.S. are predictable consequences of a well-funded anti-vaccine movement that has pushed for laws encouraging vaccine exemptions and the weakening of school vaccine requirements. To the dismay of our nation's physicians, this movement now has a seat at the top of Health and Human Services (HHS) in RFK Jr., an anti-vaccine proponent. The fact that two unvaccinated children have died of measles, 17% of infected individuals are hospitalized, and children have been hospitalized with vitamin A toxicity, reportedly in response to RFK Jr. advocating vitamin treatment for measles, shows the consequences of fringe medical viewpoints on children. As the number of reported cases of measles in the U.S. nears 1000, and cases are now in half the states without a massive outcry and response from federal agencies, one can only ask if childhood deaths from measles will become the new normal. The recently announced $11 billion in cuts of CDC funding will also impact health departments across the country, affecting not only COVID-19 relief programs but also state pediatric vaccine programs. Plans to reduce the HSS workforce by 10 thousand employees will also affect vaccination programs and infection surveillance. Thus, children in the U.S. will bear the consequences of needless infections, with medical, educational, economic, and lifelong consequences, and the nation may sadly soon learn what natural herd immunity looks like as vaccine-preventable illnesses spread across the country. Pediatric healthcare is also under attack as never before. Americans may be surprised to learn that 48% of children in the U.S. are covered by Medicaid, which provides healthcare for these children. We now hear cries for hundreds of billions of dollars to be cut from Medicaid, claiming that these cuts will come from curtailing waste, fraud, and abuse. Yet, according to reports, this number is quite low. We also need to recognize the significant shortages in pediatric care providers, which will only worsen as provider payments are cut. What are the proposed alternatives for providing pediatric healthcare when Medicaid is cut? What's more, there is a woeful shortage of pediatric dental care. This situation is even dire for children on Medicaid. And now, the scientifically unsound political campaign against water fluoridation is another example of an anti-pediatric fringe initiative to dismantle a public health success. There is no evidence that properly maintained levels of fluoride in drinking water provide anything but benefits through the reduction of dental cavities. Furthermore, the anti-fluoridation movement has not called for cavity prevention alternatives, such as fluoride supplements or varnishes, which are proposed to promote pediatric dental health or improve access to pediatric dental care. It is also an uncomfortable reality that millions of children in America do not have enough food and would go to bed hungry if not for federally funded nutrition programs. The SNAP program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, provides billions of dollars in funding for school lunch programs and serves approximately 30% of school-age children in the US. However, this program is slated for large budget cuts. Additionally, procuring produce from local farmers was a key component to promote nutritious offerings in school lunch programs. However, despite RFK Jr.'s calls to promote healthy eating, the $1 billion local farmer procurement program has been eliminated. This doesn't even begin to touch the intense effect cuts to reproductive care have on kids. The impact of abortion bans on teenage pregnancy and outcomes is now coming to light. These data show increases in teen pregnancies and an increase in newborn deaths. Yet, we are seeing attempts to restrict sex and birth control education in many states by conservative elements when more education is needed to prevent unintended pregnancies. Read More: What Trump Has Done on Reproductive Health Care In His First 100 Days Much has been highlighted about the mental health problems our children are experiencing. It is too convenient to blame these issues on the unregulated proliferation of social media. There are multiple factors for mental health problems in the U.S., including the stress that society is under due to dizzying politics and culture wars—not to mention environmental degradation. The past few decades of climate change have had an impact on society. Thus, there has been a rightful concern and regulation of environmental toxins in air, water, and food, as well as the impact of climate change on health. Numerous studies also show that environmental toxins disproportionately hurt children as compared to adults. Incredibly, looking to their future, children in Montana sued the state and won, arguing that the state needed to implement policies to mitigate the impact of climate change. Here, too, we are seeing the evisceration of policies that provide environmental protections for all of us, including children. At the state level, we also see laws considered that will be detrimental to children. In response to a workforce shortage caused by the loss of immigrant workers, the Florida legislature is proposing legislation that will roll back child labor laws. The proposed bill will allow children as young as 14 years old to work overnight shifts on school days. The impact of a singular pediatric-related policy change on infection prevention, nutrition, education, healthcare, or the environment would be dramatic. However, the cumulative effect of numerous collective policies that change in multiple ways simultaneously may be devastating. In 1963, President Kennedy said, 'For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.' Amidst the political chaos, which is sadly becoming the new norm, perhaps now is the time to step back and ask when America stopped cherishing its children. Are we prepared for the answer and consequences? Contact us at letters@
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Measles Map Update as New State Confirms Outbreak
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tennessee health officials confirmed a measles outbreak on Thursday, pushing the number of U.S. states with active outbreaks to 10. Nationwide, cases have surged past 800 — more than double the total reported in all of 2024. The largest outbreak remains in Texas, with 624 cases across 26 counties, primarily in the western region. Health officials reported two additional hospitalizations this week, bringing the total to 64, while Bailey County logged its first two cases. Most of the Texas cases—62 percent—are concentrated in Gaines County, home to a close-knit Mennonite community with low vaccination rates. Two children in Texas have died from measles-related complications since late February. Neighboring New Mexico now has 65 confirmed cases, including six hospitalizations. Most cases are in Lea County, with isolated infections in Eddy, Chaves, and Doña Ana counties. A New Mexico adult died in March due to measles complications. State officials say genetic testing confirms the outbreak is linked to the one in Texas. Kansas has reported 37 measles cases spread across eight counties in the southwest. The highest case counts are in Haskell (8) and Stevens (7) counties. The state's first case was detected on March 13 in Stevens County, also genetically linked to the Texas outbreak. In Oklahoma, the case total has reached 13 — 10 confirmed and three probable. The initial cases were traced back to outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. Public exposures occurred in Custer, Oklahoma, and Cleveland counties, though state officials have not identified where current cases are located. Ohio reported 32 confirmed cases on Thursday, with the majority in Ashtabula (16) and Knox (14) counties. There are also isolated cases in Allen and Holmes counties. Knox County health officials report 20 total measles cases, including seven non-residents. Indiana has eight cases in Allen County, in the northeastern part of the state. Five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults with unknown vaccination status. Health officials say the cases are not linked to other outbreaks. In Pennsylvania, officials declared an outbreak in Erie County after identifying two new cases tied to a prior case confirmed on March 30. The state has seen nine total cases this year, though not all are connected, including travel-related cases in Montgomery County and Philadelphia. One year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025,... One year-old River Jacobs is held by his mother, Caitlin Fuller, while he receives an MMR vaccine from Raynard Covarrubio, at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025, in Lubbock, has eight cases total, four of which are clustered in Montcalm County near Grand Rapids. Officials believe these are linked to Ontario's large outbreak in Canada. The remaining cases are not part of that cluster. Montana reported its first measles cases in 35 years, with five unvaccinated children and adults isolating at home in Gallatin County. These individuals had traveled out of state, though no link to other North American outbreaks has been confirmed. Tennessee has reported six measles cases, all in the central part of the state. At least three are connected, though health officials have not provided further details or confirmed ties to other outbreaks. Health experts warn that measles — a highly contagious, airborne virus — could continue to spread in undervaccinated communities. Though declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, recent trends in declining childhood immunization and rising exemption claims have contributed to its resurgence. This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Do You Need a Measles Vaccine Booster?
Boxes and vials of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella Virus vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. Credit - Jan Sonnenmair—Getty Images Amid the measles outbreak that started in Texas and is now believed to have spread to four other states, many people might be wondering: do I need to get a measles vaccine booster? Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that can lead to severe complications, including death. It's also vaccine preventable through the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is typically administered in childhood in two doses. More than two decades ago, measles was declared eliminated from the U.S., thanks in large part to a successful vaccination program. But in recent years, vaccination rates have declined and measles cases have soared. In 2024, there were 285 reported measles cases in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Four months into 2025, the agency has received reports of 800 confirmed measles cases. Of those, 96% were in people who were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. So far in 2025, two children in Texas have died of measles-related complications; both of them were unvaccinated. A third person, an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico, tested positive for measles after death, though the official cause of death is still under investigation, according to the CDC. Before this year, the last confirmed measles death in the U.S. was in 2015, according to the CDC. Read More: Why Measles Cases Are Rising Right Now Public health experts say that the best way to protect yourself against measles is to get vaccinated. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective; according to the CDC, two doses are 97% effective against measles. People who don't get the MMR vaccine in childhood can still get it later in life, says Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the division head of pediatric infectious diseases at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. The CDC has said that most people who get the MMR vaccine will be protected for life, and there are no official recommendations to get a third dose of the vaccine during a measles outbreak. 'The vast majority of people with two doses are protected [and] do not come down with measles,' Jhaveri says. 'We have decades upon decades of experience that two doses has been safe and effective, and when we maintained two doses at a very high level across our population, we were seeing very few, if any, outbreaks.' Still, that doesn't mean a booster is never needed for other types of diseases. According to Jhaveri, there are two important factors that help make that determination: the genetic variability of the virus and the nature of your immunity. The viruses causing the flu and COVID-19, for instance, have a lot of genetic variability, which is why public health experts recommend getting a new vaccine against those viruses every year. People also get booster shots for tetanus because antibody levels against the bacteria wane over time and if someone has a high-risk exposure—such as stepping on a rusty nail—doctors err on the side of vaccinating them afterward, Jhaveri says. But measles, he says, is more genetically stable and both doses of the MMR vaccine 'allow for you to have antibody levels that are high enough to protect you and also allow your cells to respond in case you are exposed, to prevent you from getting infected.' Jhaveri says that, as people get older, their immune system typically doesn't work as well, so 'theoretically, there may be some drop in measles immunity.' Only about three out of 100 people who are fully vaccinated against measles will get the disease if they are exposed to the virus, according to the CDC. But a vaccinated person who does get the measles typically has much milder symptoms and is less likely to spread the disease to others, compared to someone who is unvaccinated. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, about 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to the virus will get measles. There is a group of people who may need to consider getting vaccinated again: according to the CDC, people vaccinated before 1968 with an older version of the vaccine, an inactivated one, should be revaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccine we use now, a live attenuated measles vaccine. That's because the inactivated vaccine, which was available from 1963 to 1967, was not as effective as the version we use now. Jhaveri points out that the ongoing outbreak is mostly among unvaccinated people, not those who have been vaccinated, and so getting a third dose would be unnecessary. 'The reason we're seeing outbreaks now is because we have big pockets across our population that aren't getting those two doses,' Jhaveri says. 'So convincing the people who are doing the right thing to do it more is not where the effort really needs to go; it's to convince those people who don't see the benefit of the two doses … that they should get vaccinated.' Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Thousands of Hawaii students not immunized against measles
JAN SONNENMAIR / GETTY IMAGES / MARCH 1 Cases of measles are on the rise in the United States, with one confirmed case in Hawaii. Xerius Jackson, 7, gets an MMR vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by the Lubbock Public Health Department in Lubbock, Texas. JAN SONNENMAIR / GETTY IMAGES / MARCH 1 Cases of measles are on the rise in the United States, with one confirmed case in Hawaii. Xerius Jackson, 7, gets an MMR vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by the Lubbock Public Health Department in Lubbock, Texas. After Hawaii confirmed its first measles case in years, the state Education and Health departments are ramping up vaccination efforts, focusing on thousands of students who remain noncompliant with school immunization requirements. 'The health and safety of our students and staff are essential to maintaining supportive learning environments. Hawaii law requires that all students meet immunization requirements to attend school, including protection against communicable diseases like measles. These requirements are in place to keep our school communities safe and healthy, ' a DOE spokesperson told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in an email. 'Our schools work closely with families to ensure students are in compliance, while also supporting those who may need additional time to meet the requirements. In the event of a public health concern, we are prepared to act in coordination with the state Department of Health to protect our students and staff and minimize disruption to learning.' In the 2023-2024 school year, among 185, 579 public and private school students, 4.07 % had religious exemptions, 0.16 % had medical exemptions, 2.76 % had no immunization records and 14.33 % were missing required vaccines—meaning 21.33 % had incomplete immunization records. Another 9.68 % were missing physical exams. In a recent letter to parents, DOH warned that students without proof of MMR vaccination may be excluded from in-person learning if an outbreak occurs. The DOH and DOE sent the letter earlier this month, encouraging families to vaccinate their children. The letter stated that certain Hawaii schools have low vaccination rates and are at increased risk of measles and other disease outbreaks. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. According to DOH, some Hawaii schools have alarmingly high rates of vaccine noncompliance, according to new data from the state Department of Health. Malamalama Waldorf School on Hawaii island reported the highest percentage of religious exemptions statewide at 62.89 %, followed by Haleakala Waldorf School on Maui at 58.46 % and Kohala Adventist School at 52.94 %. Several public charter and private schools, including Kona Pacific charter school—35.48 %—and Alakai o Kauai charter school—36.23 %—also had high exemption rates. Meanwhile, schools with the most students not up to date on required immunizations included St. Catherine School on Kauai, which reported 100 % of students as noncompliant, Life Legacy Academy in Honolulu at 97.73 % and Waianae Intermediate School at 69.48 %. Other high-risk campuses included Konawaena Middle School at 65.32 %, HI Academy of Arts &Science charter school at 64.18 % and Kapaa Middle School at 63.42 %. The data highlights significant pockets of vulnerability that could accelerate the spread of communicable diseases like measles if an outbreak occurs. On Monday night, DOH's State Laboratories Division confirmed a measles case in an unvaccinated child under 5 years old on Oahu and began investigating potential exposures. The child had recently returned from international travel with family and developed a fever, runny nose and cough before seeking care after a rash appeared. The child is recovering at home, and a symptomatic household member is being evaluated for possible infection. Gov. Josh Green signed emergency rules Tuesday allowing students with religious exemptions to receive the MMR vaccine while maintaining their exemption status for other vaccines. The rules, in effect for 120 days, aim to boost measles protection without forcing families to give up broader exemption rights. The urgency follows new data revealing persistent immunization gaps. Preliminary 2024-2025 numbers show 28, 300 students are still noncompliant. The statewide MMR vaccination rate is 89.8 %, below the 95 % needed for herd immunity. Some schools—especially on Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island—report rates as low as 42 %. Nearly 10 % of schools statewide have more than half of students not up to date on required immunizations, according to state Rep. Trisha La Chica (D, Waipio-Mililani ). DOE is working closely with DOH to enforce compliance with immunization laws and emergency guidelines. Under Hawaii law, students must meet immunization, physical exam and tuberculosis clearance requirements unless they have medical or religious exemptions. While provisional entry is allowed with proof of a future appointment, this can be suspended during a public health emergency. Officials warned that students without required vaccines may be excluded from school during an outbreak. Both agencies say rising vaccine hesitancy—driven by misinformation and pandemic-related health care disruptions—poses a serious threat to public health and learning continuity. 'Hospitals and clinics across Hawai 'i are on high alert, ' Dr. Nadine Tenn Salle, clinical chair of pediatrics at The Queen's Health Systems, said. 'We're ready to identify and isolate cases, but our best defense is prevention. That means vaccination—not just for your child, but to protect newborns, the immuno-compromised, and others who cannot be vaccinated. This is a community effort, and the medical community is here to help every step of the way.' DOH is urging families to check immunization records and schedule any missing vaccines, which are available at pediatricians' offices, clinics and pharmacies. 'There's no need to panic—but there is a need to act, ' Green said. 'Measles isn't just a rash and a fever—it's one of the most contagious viruses known. We've already seen what happens when vaccination rates drop : more cases, more outbreaks, more lives at risk. The best thing you can do to protect your family, your community and our keiki is to get vaccinated. It's simple, it's safe and it saves lives.'
