How Ottawa has (so far) avoided a measles outbreak [Video]

Ottawa has so far been spared from the largest measles outbreak in 30 years, which has affected other areas of the province and the country. 

There’s likely a straightforward reason for that, according to Dr. Trevor Arnason, interim head of Ottawa Public Health.

“We have had historically strong rates of vaccination in Ottawa that has protected us from cases,” he said. “Vaccination is the only plausible explanation for why you don’t have spread in an area.”

Arnason said that’s especially welcome news after the city’s vaccination rate dipped during COVID.

“The pandemic disruptions actually did cause people to not receive vaccines, which is a concern, and we are updating people’s vaccines right now,” he said.