Ontario has been struggling with an epidemic of measles since the end of last year, while hundreds of new cases are reported each week.
Ontario reported 155 new measles cases last week, bearing the total number of cases recorded at 816 since the start of the epidemic.
As a comparison, only 40 cases had been confirmed in Quebec dated April 9, according to public Health in the province.
Ontario schools have started to suspend thousands of students who have not yet been completely vaccinated.
Ottawa Public Health has sent 15,000 notices of incomplete immunization files to students since mid-January and students are suspended from March to May.
In Toronto, around 10,000 students are not up to date in their vaccines, according to the Public Health of Toronto, which sent suspension prescriptions to some 700 students, and to Waterloo, more than 1,600 students were suspended last week.
The new minister of Education of Ontario Paul Calandra. (Etienne Morin/Archives Le Droit)
The concerned minister
The Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, who was transferred from the Ministry of Housing to this file after the recent early elections, said he was concerned about the number of students who are not vaccinated in certain regions.
“To be honest, I am concerned with the low measles vaccination rates in certain regions. So I am monitoring the situation very closely and I am currently working with the Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, “he told journalists on Monday.
A spokesperson for the Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, reiterated to Right The importance of vaccination to protect Ontarians from measles and to limit its spread.
“Children fully vaccinated with two doses are protected at almost 100 %. Currently, more than 96 % of cases in Ontario concern non -vaccinated people, “said Ema Popovic.
“Local public health offices continue to work with diligence in their communities to ensure that everyone is up to date in their vaccination against measles in order to limit the spread of the disease,” added Minister Jones spokesperson.
“We are going to redouble their efforts with the Minister of Health […] In terms of communication and use of schools, where it is necessary, to distribute this message, ”concluded Paul Calandra.
