We’re Number One Where We Don’t Want to Be

Welcome to the Measles Capital of the World!

That’s southwestern Ontario, folks. The spread of measles is so bad here that the state of New York has issued a travel advisory about it. My region has the most cases of all – as of April second, nearly 300 cases were reported to our local (Elgin County, Oxford County, St. Thomas) health unit. Many more cases go unreported. We’re the measles epicentre.

“A memo from Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore in March confirmed that the current outbreak was from a ‘large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick last fall.'” CBC Canada

An outbreak in Seminole, Texas was also traced to a Mennonite church gathering. I don’t share this information to vilify Mennonites, it’s simply fact. And it demonstrates the real consequences to the rest of society when one community thinks medical science is untrustworthy compared to the advice of family and church leaders.

This type of outbreak is called “rash onset.” Offiicially, measles was eliminated in Canada in 1998. But these pop-up clusters of cases occur because of one thing: anti-vaxxers. The majority of current cases are in unvaccinated children and most of the rest have an unknown vaccination status.

My Empathy Cup Runneth Dry

Somehow, I acquired an extra dose of empathy at birth. But it no longer extends to anti-vaxxers. (Their innocent children are exceptions.) If someone is spooked from getting a vaccine because a low number of people have had bad reactions to it, I can’t get on board. It’s not just about us. We mix and mingle with all sorts of people whose lives are mysteries to us. I wouldn’t dream of going near a long-term care home without being vaccinated. I care about my fellow humans who are immunocompromised. What a wacky perspective, eh?

Those born prior to 1970 in Canada are likely to have been exposed to measles through natural infection. For contacts born outside of Canada, the birth year cut-off of 1970 for expected measles immunity can be applied for measles PEP, with the exception of the United States where the birth year of 1957 should be used. Government of Canada.

Like many of my peers, I got measles as a kid. I remember my mom reminding me over and over not to scratch – but the spots were so itchy! I have one scar above an eyebrow where I couldn’t resist the itch. But once it was over, it was over for good.

Now, kids don’t have to go through it if their parents would simply get them the MMR vaccines – two shots, several years apart, for measles, mumps, and rubella.

Science is Fact Even if You Don’t Believe It

I used to say something like, hey, it’s your kid, you decide on their health protocol. Not any more. Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and have saved millions of lives. They’re for the good of everyone and a friggin’ miracle against diseases that used to mean almost certain death. I’ve yet to hear of one anti-vaxxer whose “research” has gone beyond YouTube videos designed for clicks and likes. If I’m mistaken about that, I’d like to tour your lab!

Who is a layperson to say that a vaccine hasn’t been “tested enough”, like they did with COVID? Scientists have gotten quicker at developing and testing them since Edward Jenner developed the first scientific weapon against smallpox in 1796. That’s more than 200 years of improvements by minds smarter than mine.

New York’s April 2 advisory against traveling in Ontario says in part, “Measles is only a car ride away!” They don’t just want New Yorkers to avoid getting sick, they don’t want them bringing measles back home. The advisory urges families to get the vaccine. Even notorious anti-vaxxer RFK has publicly expressed his support for the vaccine. Measles is highly contagious and kids have died from it this year which is incomprehensible when there’s a way to prevent it. Not kids who’ve been vaccinated, though. Other kids, whose parents think they’re smarter than scientists. Spoiler alert: they’re not.