This comes as measles cases spread throughout the region, especially in nearby Elgin and Oxford Counties. Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Joanne Kearon explains.
The past recommendation was for the second shot at 4-6 years. It’s also recommended that adults born in 1970 or later receive a second dose.
Kearon says it’s best for parents to reach out to their primary care provider to book a measles shot, if they’re interested in the accelerated schedule.
According to Public Health Ontario, there have been 1,440 confirmed and probable measles cases across the province since mid-October, including 197 in the last week. Most of those infections have been in southwestern Ontario, and nearly 77 per cent were in infants, children, and adolescents. 94 per cent of the cases were in unvaccinated individuals.
As of Thursday of last week, the MLHU is reporting 43 confirmed cases, with 79 per cent of those in children.
Southwestern Public Health, which includes the cities of St. Thomas and Woodstock, along with Oxford and Elgin counties, has the highest rates in the province, reporting 524 measles cases since last October, including 73 new cases in the last week.
Written by: L. Dickson