Update on measles vaccine eligibility
There has been an increase in measles cases across Alberta, including in zones that many of our community members travel to for work, school, sports, and family visits.
Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease. The best way to protect yourself, your family, and our community is to ensure your vaccines are up to date — especially if you are travelling to affected areas.
Who can get the measles vaccine?
| NEW: Infants 6 to 11 months | Infants 6 to 11 months old who live in or are travelling to the Central Zone, South Zone, or Area 1 of the North Zone may be eligible for an early dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. |
| Children 12 months up to and including 17 years of age | Routine schedule is 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine at 12 and 18 months of age, though 2 doses can be offered at least 4 weeks apart at any age in this cohort |
| Adults born in 1970 or later | 2 lifetime doses of measles-containing vaccine at least 4 weeks apart |
| NEW: Adults born before 1970 | Adults born before 1970 who are living in or travelling to the Central Zone, South Zone, or Area 1 of the North Zone also check their records. You may be eligible for one dose of the MMR vaccine if: – You have no record of getting a measles vaccine – You have never had measles (confirmed by lab testing) – Or you do not have proof of immunity |
Next Community Immunization Clinic
Blood Tribe Department of Health will be holding a Community Immunization Clinic:
Friday, April 11 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Call Community Health at 403-737-3933 to check your vaccine status or to book an appointment. Protect yourself and those around you — stay up to date with your vaccines.
Measles symptoms include:
- a fever
- a cough
- a runny nose
- red eyes
- a blotchy, red rash that appears 3 to 7 days after the fever starts. In darker skin colours, the redness may be harder to see or may appear purple or darker than surrounding skin. It typically begins behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and to the arms and legs.
Measles can be dangerous because:
- 1 in 10 people with measles will get middle ear or lung infections
- 1 in 1,000 people with measles will get encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to seizures, deafness, or brain damage
- 1 to 3 of every 1,000 people with measles will die
