Montreal Public Health is launching a campaign inviting parents to have their children vaccinated against measles. She estimates that 80 to 85% of five-year-old Montrealers are adequately vaccinated against this highly contagious disease. This rate must rise to 95% to achieve herd immunity.
“In view of the respiratory viruses that circulate abundantly among young children, we think that vaccination, even routine, is a tool to avoid having other infections that we do not want to have on top of that,” says the DD Catherine Dea, medical head of the youth sector at the Montreal regional public health office.
Children’s hospitals have been overflowing for weeks due to the spread of respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses and influenza. Absenteeism is high in schools. “Public Health is worried”, indicates the DD Dea.
The doctor recommends that parents have their children vaccinated against influenza, even though it is not an “official recommendation” from Public Health. For almost a week, Quebec has been offering the flu vaccine free of charge to anyone who wants it, and not to targeted populations.
“In the current context, I find it a very good idea to have the whole family vaccinated, the children who go to the CPE, the children who go to school, even more so when there is a small baby in the house,” says the DD Dea.
“Never too late” to get vaccinated
Public Health calls itself “proactive” in order to prevent cases of measles in Quebec. No cases have been reported recently in the province. But its spread is on the rise elsewhere in the world.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus: one infected person infects 20 others. The disease, which is manifested by red patches, cough and conjunctivitis, can lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis (one case in 1000 people infected) and, very rarely, death.
The first dose of the vaccine is offered at 12 months and the booster at 18 months. However, it is “never too late” to receive the injections, underlines the DD Dea.
In the whirlwind of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents may have forgotten their children’s routine vaccines. According to Public Health, vaccination services for toddlers have continued their activities in Montreal, despite the various waves. “Was there less access to appointments? Most likely. Because it’s the same resources that vaccinate for COVID, for monkeypox, school vaccination, children. »
It is now easier to make an appointment for routine vaccination. The reservation can be made through the government portal Clic santé.