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TORONTO – Vancouver doctors are seeing an increase in the number of unvaccinated adolescents and young adults wanting to be vaccinated against measles as a result of an outbreak of the disease in two schools in the city.
Dr. Eric Cadesky, a family physician and president of Doctors of British Columbia, recently saw a number of young patients who had made an appointment to receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine because of concerns raised by the epidemic.
"Some of them said their parents were opposed to vaccination because of unreliable sources of information they received," Cadesky said. "Others had been hesitant (to be vaccinated) because of pressure from peer groups."
Cadesky said all the doctors in his office had noticed an increase in the number of young people seeking immunization, and he heard the same story from a number of doctors elsewhere in the province and elsewhere.
"I've heard of people across Canada and even doctors around the world who said the millennium was using these epidemics to reverse the decision their parents made for them," he said.
"And many take a different decision, which is to protect themselves and in many cases it means protecting the people around them, because not everyone can get the vaccine."
Among the patients vaccinated with Cadesky is Maddi Bisset, who was not vaccinated because her mother thought her young children should not be "pumped with chemicals".
"She preferred more" natural "alternatives, including homeopathy and essential oils," said the 23-year-old woman in an email interview Wednesday.
"Everything my mother did was in our interest. I simply believe that she trusted too much the fake articles that she found online and that she did not consider the dire consequences of not vaccinating your child on her health, that of the public and the life-threatening situations in which it puts people at risk.
"With the terrible increase in measles in Vancouver, it was no longer a choice, it was a moral obligation for public safety," Bisset said of his decision to be vaccinated.
So far, nine measles cases have been confirmed in the two French language schools in Vancouver, a cluster that started after an unvaccinated vaccination campaign. the child contracted the disease during a family trip to Vietnam, where the highly contagious disease is endemic.
The infection with the measles virus begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by the appearance of a painful and painful rash that starts on the face and spread to the rest of the body. A person is contagious about four days before the rash and four days after his appearance.
Complications include ear infections that can lead to deafness, blindness, pneumonia and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.
Measles, which is spread by droplets suspended in the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes, can also be fatal. According to the World Health Organization, 110,000 people died of measles worldwide in 2017, most of whom are children under five.
Although measles was declared officially eliminated in Canada in 1998, cases imported by travelers can cause sporadic outbreaks such as those currently occurring in Vancouver, causing illness in the community and endangering non-immune individuals.
Some people – infants, people with certain underlying health problems and those who undergo chemotherapy – can not be vaccinated and must rely on the "herd" immunity to prevent infection. Other people at risk are those who choose not to be vaccinated, often on the basis of a long-discredited 1998 British study, suggesting that the MMR vaccine was linked to autism in children.
Cadesky said that young patients like Bisset are often exposed to ideas and beliefs different from those of their parents, forcing them to look for validated information, "and correctly concluding that vaccination is safe and effective."
Bisset agreed, saying that his friends are all vaccinated and are pro-vaccination.
"I think young people have adapted with the Internet and have a better idea of reliable sources. With so much information available, they can easily compare information, "she said.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, said the MMR vaccine is not only safe but one of the most effective vaccines doctors have for preventing disease.
"If anyone wonders whether to get vaccinated or not … it's a good idea now to go talk to your health care provider if you have questions, ask them to answer you." and get vaccinated, "said Tam. "I do not think it's too late to update your measles immunization."
This is especially recommended for anyone planning to travel during the March break in countries where the disease is poorly controlled, she said. Measles remains a common problem in many parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
The United States is also experiencing outbreaks related to travel: 127 cases of measles were confirmed in 10 states from February 1 to 14, the states of Washington and New York are particularly affected by the disease, says a report from the Centers for Disease Control. .
– Follow @SherylUbelacker on Twitter.
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