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Coastal Health has seen its measles immunization rate rise after recent outbreaks (Katja Fuhlert, Pixabay)
VICTORIA, BC – Nearly 16,000 children and youth in BC received doses of measles vaccine over a two-month period.
Figures are based on a report on the province's measles immunization catch-up program.
Launched in April, the catch-up program aims to vaccinate children from kindergarten to grade 12 who have never been vaccinated against measles and those who may not have received the two recommended doses.
On Vancouver Island, Island Health has administered nearly 9,000 doses of MMR vaccine since the beginning of the year.
Dr. Charmaine Enns, MD, noted that since the measles outbreak, vaccinations for the disease have doubled.
Families across the Sunshine Coast and in BC have also taken action to protect their children from measles.
From April 1 to May 30, 15,796 doses of measles vaccine were administered to K-12 students.
This is a preliminary total that will increase when all files are received by public health officials.
The province says community pharmacists and primary care providers are also key partners in the catch-up program.
In May, based on the records received to date, pharmacists administered 498 doses of total measles vaccine to school-aged children aged 5 to 19 years.
Health authorities organized 858 clinics in schools, as well as 2,388 public health clinics in communities in British Columbia.
Since the beginning of the program, 566,106 K-12 students have had their vaccination records reviewed.
In addition, parents and guardians of students whose files are missing or incomplete have been notified.
And the province notes that efforts to increase the number of measles vaccinations continue, with 230 clinics in schools and more than 900 regular clinics scheduled until the end of June.
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