Health experts recommend measles vaccine as Alberta preaches ‘parental choice’

Health officials are reiterating the importance of immunization as they work to contain a measles outbreak in northern Alberta.

A measles outbreak in northern Alberta has health officials reiterating the importance of immunization, despite the province’s health minister declining to recommend it.

John D’or Prairie, one of three communities that makes up the Little Red River Cree Nation, is experiencing the outbreak.

Officials tell CTV News there have been six confirmed cases and one probable case since the outbreak was declared Sunday.

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“There’s a world-wide increase in measles, and this is a concerning finding to see cases in Alberta,” said Dr. Chris Sarin of Indigenous Services Canada.

“It looks like it’s a point-source outbreak, introduced sometime in the past few weeks, but it has only spread through one household and possibly a second household at this time.”

An active contact tracing investigation is underway in the community, which is located about 750 kilometres north of Edmonton.

“The big issue is the contacts,” Sarin told CTV News. “Trying to figure out where these individuals were exposed. This came from somewhere else.”

Measles is a highly transmissible airborne viral illness.

The latest federal data, reported Feb. 22, indicates there have been 168 cases reported in Canada so far this year.

Vaccine is ‘highly effective’

Measles is almost completely preventable with a vaccine.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Lynora Saxinger says immunization should be a no-brainer, considering 25 to 40 per cent of cases need to be hospitalized for supportive care.

“This is almost a standard of vaccine success, because it’s highly effective at preventing disease, in the realm of 97 to 99 per cent,” Saxinger said. “It’s also a lifetime vaccine, so once you’re protected from measles, we expect that you’ll continue to be protected against measles life-long.”

In John D’or Prairie, the immunization efforts have been stepped up.

The community’s main health centre has increased its stock, and the shot is being administered in schools and on the road by roving nurses.

‘A parental choice’

Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange wouldn’t recommend all residents get the measles vaccination, despite being asked point blank by CTV News on Thursday.

“It is a parental choice, and parents and guardians have to make sure that they’re well informed to make the best choice that’s right for them and their families,” she said.

LaGrange said all of her family members have had the shot.

Speaking to CTV News, Saxinger said she thinks there’s a problem with the measles messaging in Alberta.

“(Measles) just spreads so violently to large numbers of people in the time before you get a rash and know what’s going on,” she said. “It’s a difficult one to contain.”

Just north of Alberta, the Northwest Territory’s health minister has a different approach than LaGrange.

“Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are weakening trust in science and public health,” Lesa Semmler said.

“As Minister and former public health nurse, I urge all residents to check their vaccination status and make sure they are up to date.

“Science has given us the tools to fight these diseases, and it is up to us to use them.”