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B.C. pharmacists offer to vaccinate kids. But will anyone listen?

In the wake of the measles outbreak in Vancouver, B.C.’s community pharmacists say they are standing by to give booster shots or new vaccinations to adults and children aged five years or older.
measles
More than half of the people ordered to stay home from school during the recent measles outbreak at two local schools had not previously been immunized, says Vancouver Coastal Health. Photo iStock

In the wake of the measles outbreak in Vancouver, B.C.’s community pharmacists say they are standing by to give booster shots or new vaccinations to adults and children aged five years or older.

But will anyone take them up on the offer?

Metro Vancouver has been hit by a measles outbreak stemming from unvaccinated children going to Vietnam and bringing the disease back with them.

They managed to infect other unvaccinated kids, and put at risk infants not old enough to be vaccinated yet.

Community pharmacists, located in nearly every community in the province, can provide the publicly funded Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine to individuals seeking the vaccine.

“Community pharmacists are one of the most accessible health-care providers and have had the authority to provide injections since 2009,” said Geraldine Vance, CEO of the BC Pharmacy Association. “Families and individuals looking to make sure their vaccinations are up-to-date can go to their local pharmacist for care.”

The BC Centre for Disease Control recommends that children are given two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine, with the first dose given at 12 months old and the second dose, which includes the varicella vaccine at 4- to 6-years old. If children or adolescents are unimmunized, they it is recommended they get two doses of the measles-containing vaccine.

Adults born after Jan. 1, 1970, should check their immunization records to see they have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (given as MMR). It is important, especially for travellers. For adults born before Jan. 1, 1970 are generally assumed to be protected

Adults who are born before Jan. 1, 1970, are assumed to have had measles are protected. However, those adults without a history of measles or a vaccine should be given one dose of the MMR vaccine.

So, perhaps it’s time you got a booster or changed your mind about not vaccinating your children.

Pharmacists are standing by.