Born after 1970? Ensure you’re vaccinated against measles: B.C. health officials

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C. is faring better than other regions in North America, but is urging certain residents to check their health records to ensure the province is protected from the measles virus.

Henry and Minister of Health Josie Osborne held a media event Friday morning, marking an end to the respiratory illness season and providing an update on the state of measles in B.C.

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Health authorities have so far confirmed five cases of the highly infectious disease transmitted by airborne spread in B.C. since February.

“All of them have been in people’s return from travelling to countries where large outbreaks are happening, and they didn’t have the protection that was needed,” Henry explained.

“If we look at Ontario, they’ve reported just today or yesterday that there are now over 570 people who are sick with measles. Again, largely in an unimmunized population. And there have been many sick children. Over 40 have needed to be hospitalized, most of those being children.

She says there have also been smaller but related outbreaks in New Brunswick, Quebec, and most recently, in Saskatchewan.

Last week, the U.S. reported a three-state outbreak that surpassed the total number of cases recorded for the previous year in just the first three months of 2025.

Henry says it’s important for all British Columbians to check they have been vaccinated against measles, but some demographics are more likely at risk.

“There are a few groups of people that I’m still concerned about here in BC… We used to think that in 1970 a single dose of this measles vaccine was highly effective at preventing you from getting sick with measles and passing it on to others. But in the mid-1990s we realized that some of that immunity was waning, not a lot, but enough that it was meaning that we could still have small outbreaks. So in 1996, across Canada, we started requiring two doses of measles-containing vaccine,” said Henry.

“Anybody born after 1970 you need to make sure you’ve had two doses of measles-containing vaccine to be fully protected against this serious virus, and I encourage everybody to check that.”

The second dose, she explains, will help boost protection from measles up to “near 100 per cent.”

With no treatment for measles, Henry says the vaccine is the only protection from the worst effects of the virus, including brain swelling, encephalitis, and in rare cases, death.

“So if you are infected with this serious virus, it can lead to very serious illness. The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine does not cause autism. I say that unequivocally, it is the only and best protection against this highly contagious and dangerous virus, especially to young children here. Vitamin A, zinc, cod liver oil do not prevent or treat measles.”

Thanks to a largely vaccinated population, Henry says measles has been eliminated in Canada since 1998, meaning the country has not had ongoing transmission beyond people occasionally introducing the virus when they’ve travelled to other countries.

“Vaccines are free and available to infants, children, and adults in B.C. at their local health units or health centres, and children above four years of age and adults can also be immunized at participating pharmacies.”

If you believe you have been exposed to measles, with symptoms of cough, runny eyes, fever, and rash, you’re asked to call 811 and phone ahead to your health-care provider before visiting a facility.

Meanwhile, February brought a spike in flu activity in B.C. during the respiratory illness season. The Ministry of Health says the number of patients admitted to hospitals also soared in February, with more than 600 more than in February the previous year.

Minister Osborne says although the peak of the season has passed, respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, RSV, and influenza are still circulating in B.C.

She says the province will start its spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign on April 8.

Osborne also announced once again lifting the requirement for health-care workers to wear medical masks in patient care and health authority facilities.

“But of course, if they want, people can still continue to wear masks. So, for example, if you’re recovering from an illness, or as appropriate, when you’re visiting hospitals or other healthcare settings, or even just for your own general comfort, these are the healthy habits that will continue to keep us and our children, our friends, and our community safe and healthy,” said Osborne.

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