Not all Alberta babies are eligible for early measles shot, worrying Calgary mom
CBC
A Calgary mother is urging the Alberta government to make an early measles vaccine dose available to babies in all parts of the province as outbreaks grow. And several doctors are calling for this too.
Alberta's total measles case count had surged to 1,078 as of midday Wednesday.
"This is such an awful time to have a new baby," said Shanaya von Scheel, who has a seven-month-old son, Viggo.
"It's really hard when you have this in the back of your mind — 'Am I making the right choice for my baby? Am I keeping him safe enough? What more can I be doing?'"
Young babies are at high risk for complications due to measles and von Scheel has avoided taking her son to busy places, such as malls.
The province is offering an early and extra dose of the vaccine to babies as young as six months old who are living in the hardest hit south, central and north zones. This is in addition to the routine immunization schedule which recommends two doses — one at 12 months and the other at 18 months.
But, as von Scheel found out when she initially asked about getting the early shot for her baby, it is not being offered in the Calgary and Edmonton zones.
"I don't understand this playing catch-up. I think we should be as proactive as possible," she said.
"I don't know if it's a resource problem or a money problem. But I think that if parents are wanting to vaccinate their child early we should be able to do that."
And von Scheel worries with Stampede coming there will be more people traveling into Calgary, increasing the risk the virus will spread even further.
Two new measles cases were reported in Calgary on Wednesday, bringing the total, since the outbreaks began in March, to 22. There have been nine confirmed cases in the Edmonton zone.
Babies who will be traveling to areas where measles is spreading, including parts of Ontario and Alberta's south, central and north zones, are eligible for the extra dose.
Von Scheel said she ended up getting her son vaccinated after discussing travel plans with a public health nurse.
Provincial data shows the south zone has confirmed 705 cases, the central zone has 105 and there have been 237 in northern Alberta.
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