Public health alert - Global increase in measles cases
Date of alert: February 06, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic caused global disruptions, delays, and gaps in immunization activities for routine vaccinations, including measles.
There is an increase of measles activity worldwide. Any non-immune person (not vaccinated or vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected. Unvaccinated young children and pregnant persons are at highest risk of severe measles complications.
There is an increasing risk of importing measles into Canada through travel of non-immune people.
Protection against measles is especially important for people planning travel. As such, the following is recommended for those travelling outside of Canada:
Travellers born before 1970:
1 dose of the measles-containing vaccine is recommended before travel if the traveller has no laboratory evidence of immunity (e.g. through blood testing or history of lab-confirmed measles disease).
Travellers born in 1970 or after (12 months or older):
2 doses of the measles-containing vaccine are recommended before travel if there is no laboratory evidence of immunity (e.g. through blood testing or history of lab-confirmed measles disease).
Travelling with infants (6 months to 12 months of age):
If your patient is travelling with an infant to regions where measles is a concern, the vaccine may be given as early as 6 months of age. If this is the case, the routine 2-dose series must be restarted on or after the first birthday. A total of 3 doses are given.
o It is not recommended that infants under 6 months of age be vaccinated because the effectiveness and safety of the MMR vaccine has not been established in this age group.
