Measles

• Measles is a very contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat of an infected person. 
• It can spread very easily through the air from an infected person when they breathe, talk, cough or sneeze. 
• Vaccination offers the most effective protection and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has proven to be one of the safest and most effective vaccines available.

Measles is vaccine preventable

Over 96% of the 2025 cases in Ontario were not vaccinated or did not know if they were vaccinated against measles.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has proven to be one of the safest and most effective vaccines available, even if the vaccine was received many years ago.

Measles protection is required to attend both licensed child care and school in Ontario.

The MMR vaccine is FREE through Ontario’s publicly funded vaccine program. MMR vaccines are offered to children and adults as part of Ontario’s routine vaccine schedule

ROUTINE

• Children should receive one dose at 1 year of age and a second dose at 4 years of age.
  • It is recommended that children receive the second dose (booster) as soon as they turn 4.
• Adults born in or after 1970 should have record of receiving at least one dose and may consider speaking to a health-care provider about receiving a second dose.
• Health care workers and post-secondary students should have record of receiving two doses.

NOTE:

• Adults born before 1970 are generally considered immune to measles as measles was widely circulating at that time. In addition, these individuals may have received measles vaccine at some point.
• Those who are breastfeeding can safely receive the vaccine and pass on antibody protection to their child through breast milk.
• Pregnant people cannot receive the vaccine.

TRAVELLING

Make sure you and your family members are vaccinated BEFORE travelling to an area where there are ongoing cases of measles:

• Infants 6-11 months should receive 1 dose. To be fully protected and stay on track with their routine vaccines, these infants will need to receive a dose at their first birthday and a second dose at 4 years of age.
• Children between 1 and 3 years of age who have already received their first dose according to the routine schedule should get their second dose. There must be at least 4 weeks between the doses.
• Children 4 years of age or older should get their second dose if they have not already received it as part of the routine schedule.
• Adults born in or after 1970 should get a second dose if they only have record of one dose.
• Adults born before 1970 should get one dose if they have never been exposed to measles and do not have history of getting a dose in the past.

To identify the areas with ongoing cases of measles:

• Within Ontario – See Public Health Ontario’s exposure webpage
• Within Canada – See Canada's measles monitoring report webpage 
• Internationally – See Canada’s “Advice for Travellers” webpage

EXPOSED TO MEASLES

Were you exposed to the measles virus at one of the locations identified by TBDHU?

• Adults born before 1970 are considered immune, as measles was widely circulating at that time OR they may have received measles vaccine at some point.
• Anyone born in 1970 or later should check their vaccine record to as they require two doses of a measles vaccine to be considered protected. Not sure, see the section below "Unsure if you need a dose"?.

For Further Information

Questions about the vaccine? Call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) Program at (807) 625-5908 or toll-free at 1-888-294-6630.

Questions about measles? Call the Infectious Disease Program at (807) 625-8318 or toll-free at 1-888-294-6630.