Submitted. Fraser Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer is pleased that unimmunized people in Fraser East (Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and Hope) are heeding the message about the importance of getting vaccinated and showing up to local clinics, pharmacies and doctors’ offices to get immunized against measles.
Since the measles outbreak was declared on March 8th in low immunized areas of Fraser East, Fraser Health has been working diligently with schools, community groups, church groups and medical officials in the region to investigate the outbreak and institute control measures, including setting up dedicated immunization clinics in public health and general practitioner offices and urging people to get vaccinated.
“We currently have 228 confirmed cases of measles in the Fraser East region, and largely these cases are contained within the original community where the outbreak began”, said Dr. Van Buynder. “We know our vaccine program is working because if it were not, we would be seeing measles cases multiplying outside of this specific population. I am encouraged by this and want to stress the need for people to continue to get vaccinated in order to protect themselves, their families and others from this disease.”
The most effective protection against the measles virus is two doses of the vaccine. For information on vaccine clinics, including special General Practitioner clinics, in Fraser East communities, please click here.
If residents suspect they have been exposed to measles, or have developed symptoms, they should see their medical practitioner and notify the medical practitioner’s office before arriving in order to prevent the spread of the disease to others at the clinic.