Measles Immunization

              In the wake of 19 confirmed measles cases in B-C this year, the province is launching a comprehensive program to immunize public school students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The catch-up program will run from April to June in schools, public health units, community health centres and pharmacies. It’s goal is to reach students who have never been vaccinated against measles but it will also offer second shots to older students who have not had the required double dose of the vaccine. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the program should boost the measles immunization rate among young people to 95 per cent from the current level of 82 per cent — which is not high enough to quell outbreaks of the highly infectious illness.