Measles vaccination schedule details
Advisory Alert
February 6, 2015
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For all reporting, inquiries or comments, please contact:
Sudbury & District Health Unit at 705.522.9200, ext. 301; after hours 705.688.4366.
February 6, 2015
This Advisory Alert provides reminders regarding the use of measles vaccine. It supplements the information shared in the February 4, 2015 Advisory Alert, Measles Activity in Toronto.
- Administering a second dose of measles-containing vaccine before the age of four to six years may be considered under certain circumstances, such as for individuals at higher risk of being exposed to measles during travel. In these situations, an accelerated schedule can be implemented, in which two doses of MMR vaccine may be given with a minimum interval of four weeks between doses.
- For infants, the Ministry currently publicly funds MMR vaccine for travel outside of North America as early as six months of age, based on the clinical judgment of the health care provider and the needs of the child. Effective immediately, this eligibility has been expanded to include travel to regions where measles is a concern, including within North America.
- Reminder that if the first dose of MMR is given before 12 months of age, two additional doses of measles containing vaccine must be administered after the child is one year of age to ensure long lasting immunity to measles.
Adults born before 1970 are generally presumed to have acquired natural immunity to measles; however, some of these individuals may be susceptible. As per the current publicly funded immunization schedule, all Ontarians, regardless of date of birth, are eligible for two doses of measles-containing vaccine based on the health care provider’s clinical judgment and the needs of the patient. A second dose of measles-containing vaccine is particularly recommended for adults in the following groups:
- Young adults (18 to 25 years of age)
- Post-secondary students
- Persons who received killed vaccine previously (born between 1967 to 1970)
- Health care workers
- Those who plan to travel internationally.
For additional information on measles virus and the management of suspect measles cases please refer to the February 4th Advisory Alert entitled Measles Activity in Toronto as well as Public Health Ontario’s Measles in Ontario: Update for Clinicians.
We will continue to share updates with you as they become available. Thank you and please contact my office should you have any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
P. Sutcliffe, MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health
This item was last modified on September 9, 2016