A few cases of measles were recently reported in the province, including on the territory covered by the Montréal West Island CIUSSS. Given the highly contagious nature of the virus and the potential severity of measles, Montréal Public Health wants to reiterate that vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others!
It’s important to know that you can become infected and develop the disease without being in direct contact with someone who has measles. For example, you can get it just by being in the same room as someone who is contagious, even if it’s just for a short time.
The groups most at risk are:
- Children under 12 months of age
- Susceptible pregnant women born in 1970 or after (including pregnant women born between 1970 and 1979 who have received only one dose of the vaccine)
- Immunocompromised individuals, including:
- Those who have recently undergone bone marrow transplantation, regardless of age, vaccination status, or whether or not they have had measles;
- Those born in 1970 or after who have not had measles (or who do not have documented evidence of having had it), regardless of their vaccination status.
To find out if you should get the measles vaccine or if you are protected against the disease, or for information on how to make a vaccination appointment, and much more, see the Measles vaccination section on the Montréal West Island CIUSSS website.