Latest news with #MMR
Vancouver Sun
6 hours ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Measles outbreak can be traced to Trudeau politicizing COVID vaccines, Tory MP claims
OTTAWA — An Alberta Conservative MP said she thinks the measles outbreak in her province can be traced back to the COVID pandemic and loss of trust in vaccines due to the federal government's lack of transparency about their risks. ' Years after COVID, broken trust in government health directives has not been addressed for many Canadians,' Michelle Rempel Garner, formerly the party's health critic during the pandemic, said in a lengthy social media post. Rempel Garner said the downplaying of 'rare but serious' side effects of COVID vaccinations by the Liberal government, led by then prime minister Justin Trudeau, spurred broader vaccine hesitancy, leading to a drop in childhood measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. '(F)or individuals already harbouring concerns about vaccines such as for MMR, the lack of initial transparency on potential side effects related to the COVID-19 vaccine — or muddled public health messaging — likely reinforced narratives that deterred their vaccine uptake,' she wrote. One recent study found that two-dose MMR coverage fell by more than 10 per cent among seven-year-olds in four provinces, including Alberta, and the Yukon between 2019 and 2023. Coverage fell to 75.6 per cent in 2023, nearly 20 points below the 95 per cent needed to maintain herd immunity. Rempel Garner, currently the party's immigration critic, didn't respond to a National Post request for an interview about her claim. Alberta hit an alarming milestone this week, with the province surpassing the U.S. in confirmed measles cases . The province reported Monday that it has seen 1,314 cases since the start of March, 26 more than the count recorded across 39 states by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rempel Garner's post said Trudeau deserves much of the blame for making vaccinations a polarizing wedge issue before the 2021 federal election. 'Trudeau dined out on using dehumanizing and politically loaded terms to describe the vaccine hesitant, including 'anti-vaxxer',' writes Rempel Garner. Rempel Garner says Trudeau made even more vaccine-hesitant Canadians 'dig in' when he doubled down on this rhetoric during the early 2022 convoy protests. 'The Liberal government has never issued a public apology for its vehemently hostile rhetoric toward vaccine-hesitant individuals … As a result, it has entrenched a partisan divide in society, where vaccination status is viewed as a political virtue signal rather than a public health objective to be pursued collaboratively,' she writes. Rempel Garner also speculated that the post-COVID surge in immigration has contributed to the measles outbreak, and suggested that health authorities track the citizenship status of infected individuals. Olivier Jacques, a professor of health policy at the University of Montreal, said the 2021 Liberal campaign's rhetoric surrounding vaccinations could have contributed to the drop in MMR uptake. 'It might have knocked down uptake by one or two per cent, but even that one or two per cent is dangerous when it comes to herd immunity,' said Jacques. Jacques notes that vaccination rates have dropped in a number of different countries since the pandemic, including the U.S. 'It's really hard to say how much of a role our politics played. Even before COVID, you had all this misinformation about vaccines that was floating around on social media and elsewhere,' said Jacques. A spokesman for federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel didn't address Rempel Garner's post directly, but reiterated the importance of vaccinations. 'What we are seeing in Alberta is concerning. Vaccines are safe and they save lives. We strongly encourage people to get vaccinated,' Guillaume Bertrand wrote in an email to the National Post. Canada has seen an alarming spike in measles infections this year, with nine in 10 cases occurring in Ontario and Alberta . No deaths have been reported so far in Alberta. A measles-infected Ontario newborn died last month in the outbreak's first, and thus far only, reported fatality. National Post rmohamed@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Axios
10 hours ago
- Health
- Axios
Iowa reports 7th measles case as U.S. outbreak grows
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this week confirmed the state's seventh case of measles this year, raising concerns about a disease that was once nearly eradicated in the U.S. Why it matters: The return of measles — mostly caused by unvaccinated travelers and falling immunization rates — raises concerns as families travel or go on international vacations during peak summer season. Catch up quick: Measles spreads easily through the air, can stay in indoor spaces for hours, and causes serious illness in children and immunocompromised people. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing the disease, which causes high fever, rash, cough and red eyes and can lead to severe complications like brain inflammation. State of play: Before this year, the last confirmed cases of measles in Iowa were in 2019, when there were two, per the HHS. Although the MMR shot is safe and effective, vaccination rates among Iowa kindergartners fell below the herd immunity target of 95% in the 2024-25 school year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The big picture: The U.S. is currently experiencing a multistate measles outbreak with nearly 1,300 cases confirmed in at least 39 states so far this year, according to the CDC. There have been three confirmed deaths, and 13% of cases led to hospitalization.
Hamilton Spectator
11 hours ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Pair of measles cases confirmed in Hamilton
Hamilton public health is investigating a pair of confirmed measles cases in the city. The public health unit announced the cases in a media release Tuesday, noting that the cases are travel-related and involve the same household — one infant and one adult. The local cases come as the province continues to grapple with a growing measles outbreak that began in October and has infected more than 2,200 people since it began. The confirmed cases in Hamilton mark the latest in the city since February, when a child was infected with the virus. There were also some local measles exposures announced by public health back in May. Public health said it has notified and will be following up with all 'identified contacts' who have been potentially exposed to the highly contagious virus, which can easily spread to those who are not fully vaccinated or have not previously been infected. Alongside connecting with identified contacts, public health officials announced at least four potential exposure sites where members of the public may have come into contact with the virus. Service Ontario at 50 Dundurn St. S. on July 7 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Costco at 100 Legend Ct. in Ancaster on July 7 from 3 to 8 p.m. Upper Gage Clinic and Gage Pharmacy at 1050 Upper Gage Ave. on July 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Infants, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems are more at risk of severe complications from the virus, noted the public health unit. 'Measles is a serious, vaccine-preventable infection that can cause severe lifelong complications,' said Dr. Bart Harvey, associate medical officer of health, in a statement. Those who were potentially exposed are asked to watch for symptoms for 21 days after an exposure, even if they are up to date with their vaccinations. Symptoms typically last for one to two weeks and may include a high fever, cough, runny nose and small white spots with white centres on the inside of the mouth and throat, as well as a red, blotchy rash. Folks from the community are reminded to check their immunization records to ensure they are up to date on their measles vaccines, either MMR or MMRV. 'Vaccination against measles is highly effective,' said Harvey. 'It is strongly recommended that you and your family are up to date with appropriate measles vaccination.' Two doses are recommended for anyone born in or after 1970, according to the release, while those born before 1970 are considered protected against measles. Those who were born after 1970 and are not fully vaccinated are asked to avoid contact with those most vulnerable to the virus. Contacts who are students or child-care workers with only one dose of the vaccine will be asked to stay home until they are fully vaccinated. Those who were at either exposure site and are not fully vaccinated are asked to call Hamilton public health at 905-546-2424, ext. 7970, with any questions and concerns. If someone has developed the symptoms of measles, they are asked to stay home and not attend work, school or any other public spaces. They should contact their doctor and, if attending a clinic or hospital, call ahead to ensure precautions are in place. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Parents issued urgent measles warning after child dies from 'eliminated' disease
The World Health Organisation declared that the UK had eliminated the illness in 2017 but outbreaks still occur. Parents have been warned about measles after a child died from the deadly disease last week. The World Health Organisation declared that the UK had eliminated the illness in 2017 but outbreaks still occur.. According to the UK Health Security Agency, elimination means that the disease is no longer native to the UK, but it doesn't mean that it has disappeared entirely. Vaccination rates have been on the decline in recent years, and this could prove fatal to kids following the recent death at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. Experts fear measles could "spread like wildfire" in Merseyside and potentially beyond. There are at least 17 patients with the disease at Alder Hey, according to the Liverpool ECHO, which means cases in the community are likely to be much higher. The UKHSA reports that there have been 529 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England in 2025, an increase of 109 cases since the last report in June 2025. More than two thirds of these were in children aged 10 and under, so there are increased fears about measles continuing to afflict children across the UK. And, in the midst of this surge in cases, one expert has urged parents to keep an important health device with them wherever they go. Abbas Kanani MRPharmS, superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, has told mums and dads of kids with asthma to keep an inhaler handy at all times. He said: "Parents should carry an inhaler in case of asthma attack [because] the respiratory and intestinal tracts are the most affected sites in measles-infected children." With the vaccination rates of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine "worryingly low" in some parts of the UK, this is crucial. The latest figures from the House of Commons Library's Child Immunisation Statistics show Scotland has the best MMR coverage by age five. But across the UK, immunisation rates have fallen in recent years and nowhere is currently meeting the 95 per cent target for two MMR jags by age five, which is recommended by the WHO to achieve and maintain measles elimination. Measles is an extremely contagious infection that is caused by a virus. For some people, they will get better on their own, but others may get seriously unwell. Symptoms include: cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C small greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks Measles spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, with others being affected by the airborne virus particles. To reduce the risk of spreading or catching it, people should wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water. If you are sneezing and coughing, use tissues and then bin them. The best method to prevent measles is by having the MMR vaccine. And Mr Kanani has urged parents to take up any offers for the jab. He said: "The MMR vaccine is offered to all children in the UK, two doses can give lifelong protection against measles, mumps, and rubella". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots urged to get vaccinated as measles cases rise amid global outbreak
Health chiefs are urging Scots to get fully vaccinated against measles as cases continue to rise, with 27 confirmed infections already recorded in Scotland this year. Scots are being urged to take up vaccinations for measles as confirmed cases continue to rise across the country. Public Health Scotland (PHS) has said that 27 cases of measles have been laboratory-confirmed in Scotland so far in 2025, amid a worrying increase in outbreaks across the UK and globally. Measles is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) . It can affect people of all ages who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated. It comes after a child died from the disease this weekend at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, where there has been an outbreak in the area. The MMR vaccine—protecting against measles, mumps and rubella—remains the best defence, with health chiefs stressing the importance of having two doses to be fully protected. The first dose of MMR is normally given to children aged 12 to 13 months, with a second dose offered at 3 years and 4 months. However, those who missed either jab at the recommended time can still get vaccinated at any age. Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of Vaccination and Immunisation at PHS, warned that a steady drop in uptake over the past decade could fuel further outbreaks. He said: "Measles is highly infectious and can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications for some people. We've seen a modest decline in vaccination rates in Scotland over the last decade which is a concern as measles can spread quickly in communities where vaccination rates are low. 'That's why we're encouraging anyone who hasn't had two doses of the free MMR vaccine, as well as parents and carers of children who have missed a dose, to visit the NHS Inform website and find out how to arrange an appointment in their local health board area. 'We would also encourage those who are planning to travel anytime soon to ensure that you and your children are up to date with all your vaccinations before leaving the country.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Healthcare workers are also being reminded that they should have had both doses of the MMR vaccine, and are advised to contact their employer or occupational health team if unsure of their status.
