Four years ago this week, the world changed in ways than we could never have imagined, after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
Today, in 2024, another alarm bell is ringing when it comes to public health: the resurgence of measles.
“We have to remember that measles is a very, very transmissible infection,” Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious-diseases specialist, told CTV News. “Probably the most transmissible infection on the planet.”
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, sent a memo to public-health agencies on February 20 stating that, “while measles is no longer considered endemic in Canada, outbreaks can happen when susceptible individuals (e.g., unvaccinated) travel to and return from countries where measles is circulating. Health system partners in Ontario must be prepared for the continued importation of cases and potential outbreaks.”
According to Public Health Ontario, as of March 11, the province has seen six laboratory-confirmed cases this year — one of which “occurred in an individual with an unknown source of exposure.”
So what can Ontarians do to protect themselves and their families?
Dr. Theresa Tam, chief public health officer of Canada, released a statement in late February outlining her concerns about the potential community spread of measles with Canadians preparing to head out on March break.
“Global health authorities are reporting a significant increase in measles in 2023 that continues into 2024, due in part to a decline in measles vaccinations during the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 79% increase in the number of global measles cases in 2023 compared to 2022,” the statement reads. “As we head into the spring break travel season, I am concerned that the global surge in measles activity, combined with the decline in measles vaccine coverage among school-aged children in Canada, could lead to an increase in imported measles cases, potentially resulting in transmission in communities in Canada. I strongly advise everyone in Canada to be vaccinated with two doses of a measles vaccine, especially before travelling.”
The overwhelming message from public health: make sure you’re vaccinated or get vaccinated.
The overwhelming reason that message may fail to register? More Canadians are becoming vaccine hesitant, and parents are vaccinating their children less.
Agenda segment, January 7, 2021: Vaccine hesitancy in a pandemic
A recent Angus Reid poll found that “one-in-six parents of minors (17%) say they are ‘really against’ vaccinating their kids, a four-fold increase from 2019. There has also been a simultaneous 15-point decrease (70% in 2019, 55% in 2024) in the proportion of Canadians who support mandatory childhood vaccination in schools — a policy in place in Ontario and New Brunswick. Opposition to this idea has risen correspondingly from one-quarter (24%) to closer to two-in-five (38%).”
The survey also confirmed something many of us can likely relate to — that talking to friends and family about vaccines can be difficult: “At least one-in-five across each of the four vaccine acceptance groups say these are issues they worry about bringing up in social circles. This does, however, rise to three-in-10 among Anti-Vax and Vax-Skeptics.”
How can we approach talking about an issue that has become so incredibly divisive at a time when measles could potentially cause more harm and add further strain to an already overburdened health-care system? Well, we talk about it. The good and the bad.
When my son was born, I second-guessed my decisions. As someone who was born in East Africa, worked in West Africa, and spent a lot of time travelling for work, I had received many vaccines and been exposed to many diseases and illnesses. But somehow, making that call to vaccinate my child made me question everything I knew and understood. I was lucky to have an incredible pediatrician, now retired, who walked me through my fears and answered my questions with empathy and no judgment.
I can’t imagine how difficult making these decisions would be if my only access to a doctor for my child was via an e-consult, a walk-in clinic, or an emergency room — and that’s the case for all too many, given that Ontario is facing a GP shortage, and pediatric care is also in crisis.
Agenda segment, October 29, 2021: Children and C0VID-19 vaccines
More recently, the issue hit even closer to home. I hesitate to share the following, but, as I’ve said, I believe transparency is important. The day I had my surgery in December, my husband got his flu shot. Within days, he was in a lot of pain and ended up admitted into the hospital for a week. After multiple tests and procedures, he was diagnosed with “post-vaccine transverse myelitis.” He lost feeling in his legs and groin, but, while most of the feeling has returned, he is still in pain.
Sweeping this under the rug for fear of fanning vaccine hesitancy would not be in anyone’s best interests — for many, it would affirm the worst things that are said about vaccines in private.
Our family is lucky enough to have a doctor we trust who’s helped walk us through this. We know this is rare. We know that the risks of not being vaccinated far outweigh the risks of going without.
But what about the 2 million Ontarians without a family doctor? How can families be expected to navigate these decisions alone?
When my husband was hospitalized, my community of friends rallied around us. They provided us with food and held my family in care. Talking about vaccine hesitancy should be just like that. Instead of tsk-tsking others and looking down our noses at those who ask questions and are worried, we need to work through this as a community, sharing experiences, sharing knowledge — and working toward a province in which everyone gets the medical care and advice they deserve.
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