Manitoba experts worried as uptake of measles vaccine drops 3 per cent – Winnipeg [Video]

A decline in measles vaccination rates in Manitoba is cause for worry among some health experts.

Statistics from the provincial government say, in 2022, an average of 77.1 per cent of children up to two years old had their first measles vaccine, and 72.4 per cent had their second by age seven. That’s a 3-per cent decrease from the year before.

“We saw a decrease in uptake during the pandemic due to a lot of access issues,” Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, said.

Dr. Joss Reimer, president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association, echoed this but also added misconceptions about vaccines also play a role.

“What’s surprising to me is that, coming out of a pandemic where we had a vaccine that was so successful, that we’re seeing a decrease in vaccine rates instead of an increase. I think that says a lot about all of the disinformation and fear campaigns,” she said.