Dr. Sunil Sookram, Alberta’s interim chief medical officer of health, says the province is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in nearly four decades, prompting an urgent expansion of vaccine access and the launch of a provincewide public awareness campaign.
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As of Monday, there are 210 confirmed measles cases in Alberta, including 26 active infections. To combat the surge, the province is opening more immunization clinics and rolling out a multilingual advertising campaign urging Albertans to get immunized.
"Getting immunized against measles is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community," said Health Minister Adriana LaGrange. "By expanding access to vaccines and reaching more Albertans with this advertising campaign, we hope more Albertans will protect themselves."
Clinic access is expanding across the central and south health zones, with additional appointments being added daily. In the central zone, walk-in availability has been introduced at multiple locations, including some with evening measles-specific clinics and Saturday hours. In the south, both evening and weekend appointments are being added.
Alberta Health Services says it is prepared to extend hours at existing measles-specific clinics and open additional clinic space across the province based on demand.
An early dose of measles-containing vaccine is now available for infants aged six to 11 months in the north, central and south zones. This is in addition to the standard immunization schedule of two doses, typically given at 12 and 18 months of age.
Appointments in the central zone are currently available within one day, while appointments in the south are generally available within one to two days.
"We are looking at one of the largest outbreaks in nearly 40 years," said Sookram. "When fewer people are protected, measles spreads -- and the risks go up. Immunization is the best way to protect yourself and loved ones from measles. Get immunized against measles now and help prevent the spread. Help protect your communities."
A new measles hotline is now live through Health Link. By calling 1-844-944-3434, Albertans can fast-track their call to access immunization records, receive advice on symptoms, or get help booking an appointment or locating a nearby public health clinic.
Measles symptoms typically begin with a fever of 38.3 C or higher, followed by cough, runny nose and red eyes. A red, blotchy rash usually appears three to seven days after the fever begins, starting behind the ears and on the face and spreading down the body to the arms and legs.
"Primary Care Alberta encourages all Albertans to check their vaccination records, and those of their children, to ensure that they are protected from the highly contagious measles virus," said Kim Simmonds, CEO of Primary Care Alberta. "Our dedicated team is ready to help you confirm your vaccination status, or to assist you and your family if you suspect that you’ve been exposed to measles."
Public health officials are collaborating with Alberta Health Services and local leaders in the hardest-hit areas to support affected communities and increase vaccination efforts. Most cases remain traceable, and officials say they continue to monitor the situation closely.
Multilingual campaign launching mid-May
Since mid-March, Alberta’s government has been running a social media campaign encouraging Albertans to check their immunization status. That campaign is now being expanded to include radio, print, digital and social media ads under the tagline "Don’t get measles. Get immunized."
The province is also preparing a toolkit for daycare providers to help inform parents about the disease and vaccination access.
The campaign will be translated into more than 14 languages. Online ads will appear in French, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Tagalog. Radio ads will also run in Arabic, French, Hindi, Korean, Farsi, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Digital tools and data tracking
Albertans who are unsure of their or their child’s immunization history can text "vaccine record" to 88111, call Health Link at 811, or contact their local public health office. Texting "measles" to 88111 provides up-to-date health information directly to mobile devices.
Since March 16, Alberta has recorded a 67 per cent increase in measles vaccinations compared to the same period last year.
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