Alberta ‘needs to come out’ with measles vaccine guidance as cases climb

CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson has details on measles vaccination records and recommendations as the number of cases in Alberta climbs.

With 13 confirmed cases of measles across the province, some adult Albertans are questioning if they’re protected from the virus.

Health officials say two doses are needed for optimal immunity.

People born before 1970 are believed to have natural immunity to the measles because they likely would have had it or been exposed to it.

Those who received their childhood vaccinations before the mid-1990s, however, may have received just one dose.

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Dr. Stephanie Smith, an infectious disease physician at the University of Alberta Hospital, said getting an additional dose won’t negatively affect an otherwise healthy adult who may have unknowingly already had two.

She said the province will have to give guidance.

“For the vast majority of otherwise healthy Albertans, if they are unable to determine if they’ve had one dose or two, then I think public health is going to need to come out with some messaging about whether they should just go ahead and get that extra dose,” Smith told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday.

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Vaccination record-keeping practises vary from province to province. Alberta claims it is one of the few that has a comprehensive system for it.

An Alberta Health official said in a statement to CTV News Edmonton that the province has acquired extra doses of measles vaccine in anticipation of more demand.

They said the province has “provided input” to efforts updating the National Immunization Strategy.

“We support efforts to ensure immunization information can be shared and connected with other jurisdictions,” the official said in the statement.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson