Measles clinics offered to 'priority' groups by Region of Waterloo Public Health as outbreak worsens
Clinics in Cambridge and Kitchener open to people by appointment
Measles vaccine clinics in Kitchener and Cambridge will be offered by public health to people in "priority groups."
Priority groups are people who don't have a primary care provider and who are:
- Infants (six months to a year to receive their first dose early).
- Children (ages one to four to receive their second dose early).
- Adults born on or after 1970 who need a second dose.
The clinics will run at 150 Main St. in Cambridge and 20 Weber St. in Kitchener. Appointments can be made through the Region of Waterloo's website.
The clinics come as more cases of the measles are reported in Waterloo region and throughout southern Ontario. Public health says the people at greatest risk of getting measles are those who have not yet had two doses of the vaccine.
The risk for individuals who are fully immunized, with two doses of a vaccine, or born before 1970, is still considered very low.
The clinics also come after Ontario expanded eligibility for the vaccine. People can now receive the vaccine earlier than previously scheduled:
- Infants (six months to a year) can receive a single dose, then receive two additional doses after their first birthday.
- Children (age one to four) can receive an earlier second dose (before they would receive the second dose after they turned four). Children can receive their second dose as early as four weeks after their first dose.
- Adults born on or after 1970 can now receive a second dose of vaccine if they do not already have one.
Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the medical officer for Region of Waterloo Public Health, said in a release that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine (often shortened to MMR vaccine) is "highly effective and safe."
"The MMR vaccine greatly reduces the risk of getting measles and helps protect the broader community from further exposures," Wang said.
The region's website lists numerous potential public exposure locations. Among them are four schools where there have been positive cases:
Winterbourne Parochial Elementary School in West Montrose (exposure on May 2).
Eastwood Collegiate Institute in Kitchener (exposure May 6 to May 8).
St. Mary's High School in Kitchener (exposure on May 8).
Franklin Public School in Kitchener (exposure May 12 to May 15).
Public health says measles starts with symptoms that are similar to a cold, including:
- A runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever.
- Small white spots sometimes appear in the mouth and back of the throat.
- Three to seven days later, a red blotchy rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash can last up to seven days.
Anyone with symptoms of measles should contact their family doctor's office or public health.