South East Health Unit holding measles vaccine clinic in Brockville, Ont.

The South East Health Unit is holding a vaccination clinic in Brockville for people who need a measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) or a measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.

The clinic will be held Wednesday, March 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the office of the South East Health Unit (formerly Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit) at 458 Laurier Blvd. in Brockville.

This clinic will focus on children one to four years of age needing MMR, children over four years of age who have not received the recommended two doses of MMR, including the second dose that includes varicella—a.k.a. MMRV—and school educators and childcare workers who do not have two doses of measles vaccine, which may have been given as MMR or a separate measles vaccine.

Eligible residents are asked to book into the clinic using the following link: https://reservation.frontdesksuite.ca/lgldhu/MMR vaccine clinic

This comes as Ontario is experiencing its largest resurgence of measles in over a decade, with more than 350 reported cases, including at least 32 in the South East Health Unit alone. An outbreak was declared in the Hastings County area, less than 200 kilometres west of Brockville.

Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, is encouraging all residents to stay on top of their vaccinations.

Measles is a highly contagious infection that can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The measles virus can live in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. Symptoms begin to surface seven to 21 days after exposure and include fever, runny nose, cough, drowsiness, red eyes, and a notable red, blotchy rash. Severe complications can include respiratory failure, swelling of the brain, and death.