Alberta expanding measles immunizations access to prevent the spread

The province said it’s taking the current measles outbreaks seriously and is actively working to improve vaccination access and share information Albertans need to protect themselves.

As cases increase, additional immunization appointments are being added daily to improve access to vaccines with an expansion of immunization clinic access across the central and south zones starting Monday.

Alberta’s government said clinics in the central zone will now have walk-in availability, including some with evening measles-specific clinics and additional Saturday availability.

In the south zone, both evening and weekend appointments are being added.

Alberta’s government and AHS have also introduced a new early dose of measles-containing vaccines, now available for infants six to 11 months of age in the north, central, and south zones of the province.

This is on top of the routine immunization schedule, which is two doses of measles-containing vaccine at 12 and 18 months of age.

Starting Monday, HealthLink 811 is introducing a dedicated measles hotline. Albertans seeking information about measles can fast track their call through HealthLink.

The measles hotline will speed up access to a professional who will assist with accessing immunization records or general information.

Professionals can provide advice for those experiencing measles symptoms and are feeling unwell.

They can also assist with booking measles immunization appointments or locating a public health clinic offering immunization in a patient’s area.

Alberta’s minister of health Adriana LaGrange said by expanding access to vaccines and reaching more Albertans with a new advertising campaign, the government hopes more people will protect themselves against measles.

“Getting immunized against measles is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community,” she said in a statement Monday.

Alberta’s government said measles cases are on the rise in Alberta, with 210 confirmed to date — including 26 known active cases.

Advocacy group Friends of Medicare also responded Monday. Executive director Chris Gallaway said this should be an “all hands on deck situation”.

“Measles is a horrible disease, it is easily transmitted, yet also entirely preventable through immunization,” Gallaway said in a statement.

“Rather than waiting for local outbreaks to turn into a provincial outbreak, we should be expanding education and immunization across all zones of Alberta, immediately.”

Gallaway said expansion of care would be the best way to protect Albertans and the public health care system.

He said Albertans desreve a Chief Medical Officer of Health and Public Health Service that are arms-length and rooted in making decisions based on the best science, while sharing the best evidence-based information with the public.

“Instead we’ve seen a revolving door in the Chief Medical Officer of Health’s office and increasing control from a government that seems happy to spend public resources pandering to anti-vaccination rhetoric,” he said in reference to the AHS board’s dismissal in January.

The province said public health officials are collaborating with AHS to manage the outbreak response.

Officials are also working with local leadership in areas with the highest case numbers to support affected communities and increase vaccination efforts.

Most cases remain traceable, and officials continue to monitor the situation closely.

Currently, appointments in the central zone are available within one day, while in the south zone appointments are available usually within one to two days.

The province said following increased efforts to educate Albertans on measles and the importance of immunization, there has been a significant rise in immunizations across the province.

Since March 16, there has been a 67 per cent increase in comparison to last year.

Naheed Nenshi, leader of Alberta’s New Democrats, said in a statement that the measures announced Monday should have been in place months ago.

“Instead, this government ignored the problem,” he said.

“Now we have more than 200 people who have gotten needlessly sick, many of them children, and people are in intensive care with this terrible disease.”

Nenshi said it’s wrong to say Albertans forgot the importance of vaccinations when the Smith government is “full of vaccine deniers actively spreading misinformation that discourages people from getting their shots”.

“But this is what we can expect from Danielle Smith and her Health Minister – blame everyone else for their own incompetence,” he said.

Symptoms of measles include a fever of 38.3 C or higher, a cough, runny nose and/or red eyes, and a red, blotchy rash appearing three to seven days after fever starts.

It typically begins behind the ears and on the face, and spreads down the body and to the arms and legs.

Data on measles, including total confirmed cases, is updated Monday to Friday by Alberta’s government.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Alberta expanding measles immunizations access to prevent the spread

What's Trending