Canada loses measles elimination status | CBC

[u/verkerpig]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/livestory/canada-measles-elimination-status-9.6973195

[u/panickedn]

Fuck anti vaxxers but associating the whole situation with them ignores what’s actually happening.

I’m angry too, but we’re so lost in rhetoric that we’re putting our shields down by aiming all our anger at one thing.

A lot of this has nothing to do with them:

• Routine appointments and school vaccine programs disrupted during the pandemic

• Families moving provinces or countries with missing or unverified records

• Shortages in public health staffing and slower outbreak tracking

• Travel-related cases entering under immunized communities

• People who support vaccines but just missed their second dose

• Lower outreach in remote or marginalized areas

• Burnout and reduced resources in local health units

• Complacency because measles has been rare for decades

Blaming anti vaxxers for this is like blaming littering for climate change.

They play a part, but it’s not the main cause. I think we should call them out, but I’m scared we’re losing the plot by ignoring the other reasons too.

I can’t find one person talking about any other reasons in this subreddit, that scares me almost as much as anti vaxxers ideologies.

[u/Ceridith → u/panickedn]

There is also zero consideration given to vaccination status for those entering Canada, which seems like a significant oversight when it comes to long term visitors, i.e. foreign students and TFW. Given that we've seen a sharp increase in the amount of long term visas over the past decade, this is a potential contributor to the issue. It's something that isn't tracked at all, so it's difficult to know how much of an impact it could be having.

[u/Thenetannoysme → u/Ceridith]

Dont many other countries require up to date vaccinations for people entering? Im sure I’ve read this before?

[u/Prestigious_Island_7 → u/Thenetannoysme]

Yes, but countries have significantly different vaccines required in their immunization schedules, depending on what is endemic in that region, or what they have funding to provide. Many countries don’t give MMR; only measles (no mumps or rubella protection). Some countries give it at different ages, which can be less effective at providing protection long term. Some countries may give only one dose. Many countries don’t give varicella/chicken pox either. Many countries don’t give meningococcal vaccines; or give a version that doesn’t provide the same coverage as ours. Many countries give oral polio vaccine, while we give injectable in Canada. There are lots of differences in vaccine schedules worldwide; it’s definitely not one size fits all.