With over 1,000 confirmed cases of measles in the province, a provincial advocacy group is sounding the alarm.
The organization Ontario School Safety is a grassroots organization that is fighting for safe in-person education in the province. Mary Jo Nabuurs is the officer of media relations and outreach for Ontario School Safety (OSS) and she says they are very concerned.
“OSS is very concerned about the increase in measles cases seen in recent weeks,” Nabuurs said. “Knowing how dangerous measles can be and that schools and school buses are often responsible for transmission of viruses into the wider community, we believe strongly that the provincial government, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, and Public Health Ontario must do more, and quickly, to get the spread of measles under control.”
The group is so passionate about keeping students and staff safe that they have written an open letter explaining why vaccinations alone won’t keep schools safe. Two of the three main reasons are around vaccinations, according to Nabuurs.
“Vaccination rates are very low, particularly among young children, with breakthrough infections also occurring in those believed to be fully vaccinated,” Nabuurs said. “Getting to the level needed for herd immunity (95%) will take time. Also, measles is airborne and can linger in the air for up to two hours, meaning we must also look to reduce measles cases that people acquire by simply breathing in someone else’s breath.”
OSS is urging the implementation of a vaccine-plus strategy.
“This is a strategy that includes increasing vaccination rates while also ensuring there is healthy air to breathe in all school and school bus settings,” Nabuurs said. “This strategy is an achievable and equitable approach to significantly reducing measles spread. Many of the tools to implement this strategy are available, and the sources supporting this approach are plentiful.”
Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. Measles can be passed from an infected person by breathing, talking, coughing or sneezing. OSS is also asking families to contact their MPP’s, local public health officials and school boards to urge them to do more.
“We urge them to launch and support a robust public health education campaign regarding the risks associated with measles, the need for vaccination, and the need for better indoor air quality,” Nabuurs said. “We ask families to share our letter with anyone who would benefit from having the information, and to visit our website and social media channels to find out more about the numerous benefits healthy air in Ontario’s schools and school buses provide staff and students, Ontario’s workforce, our healthcare system, and the economy.”
The provincial government says they are working hard to combat the spread of measles throughout the province.
In a statement issued by Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, she says the government continues to work with all local public health units to ensure everyone is up to date with their measles vaccine to further limit the spread of measles.
“Our government has made record investments to build healthier communities and support public health units (PHUs) across the province,” Jones continued. “Not only have we increased funding for PHUs by nearly 20 per cent, but our government also restored the 75 per cent provincial, 25 per cent municipal cost share ratio and, we are providing PHUs with an annual increase to base funding each year for three years.”
With over 1,200 cases of measles being reported in the province, some health units and grassroots organizations that advocate for student and staff safety are sounding the alarm. Jones says the government hears the concerns and is taking action.
“Our government is also running a province-wide marketing campaign to raise awareness of the risks of measles and how it can be prevented through the vaccine, available, free, to all Ontarians,” she said. “Currently, the education campaign is on socials, but will be expanded in the upcoming days and weeks. In parts of Ontario where measles transmission is occurring, some local public health units have begun to offer community immunization clinics to offer MMR vaccine.”