Ontario must take measles seriously

I am writing to raise awareness about the escalating threat of measles outbreaks, with recent reports across Ontario indicating the highly contagious airborne virus is already spreading in our communities.

Measles poses severe risks, particularly to vulnerable groups like children and pregnant people. The consequences of infection can be severe and may include: neurological impairment, pneumonia, blindness, deafness, heart damage, encephalitis, immunosuppression, miscarriage, premature labour, low-birth-weight infants and even death.

Thirty per cent of measles cases result in complications and, tragically, most who die from measles are young children.

Ontario School Safety is calling for the government to fund provincewide education campaigns promoting measles vaccinations; in-school vaccine clinics for students and staff; provision of well-fitting N95/KN95 masks; and improved indoor air quality in schools and school buses.

Vaccination rates in Ontario fall well below the necessary threshold of 95 per cent for community protection. Only half of Ontario's seven-yearolds are reported to be fully vaccinated against measles.

The potential for outbreaks in schools is high.

While vaccination remains our first defence against measles infection and outbreaks, we must act to fill the current public health gap created by low vaccination rates.

Ontario School Safety — a grassroots, volunteer-led organization advocating for safe in-person education — stands ready to work with government and community leaders to implement urgent measures and asks others to urge our government to take action.

Dr. Heather Hanwell, director, Ontario School Safety