The South East Health Unit is urging residents to make sure their immunizations are up to date amid the largest measles outbreak in Ontario in 30 years.
In a release, the health unit says there are currently 32 cases of measles in Hastings County.
All cases in Hastings County involve individuals who were not previously immunized against measles.
The health unit’s medical officer of health says ensuring your vaccines are up to date is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones and reduce the spread of measles in the community.
“The measles vaccine is safe and highly effective in reducing transmission and preventing severe outcomes from the virus,” says Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at SEHU, in the release.
“By working together to ensure that everyone who is able to get vaccinated has done so, we can prevent outbreaks and protect the most vulnerable in the community from measles and its complications.”
You can review your immunization records at the link here.
The health unit notes that they may not have records for anyone born in 1985 or earlier.
They say that most individuals born before 1970 are generally presumed to have acquired immunity due to infection in their childhood, as high levels of measles were circulating before 1970.
