SWPH now offers measles vaccine appointments for infants

Residents in the Southwestern Public Health region have a new option to protect their infants during the current measles outbreak. Starting today, the health unit is booking appointments for first-dose measles vaccines dedicated to infants aged 6 to 11 months throughout the month of March. This early dose is recommended during a measles outbreak to protect babies before they become eligible for their routine measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination at one year old.  

“A single dose of measles vaccine offers 85 to 95% protection against the illness for infants. With the outbreak we are experiencing, this clinic offers local parents an option to protect their child quickly,” says Jaime Fletcher, Manager of Vaccine Preventable Diseases for Southwestern Public Health.  

Parents and guardians can book online at www.swpublichealth.ca/booking throughout the month of March. The clinic is offered at the health unit’s 1230 Talbot Street site in St. Thomas. Appointments are required and are only available for infants aged 6 to 11 months old who reside in Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas. Booked appointments for anyone who is not in the age range or does not live in the region will be cancelled.   

Once completed, parents and guardians are responsible for adding this vaccination to their child’s immunization history at www.swpublichealth.ca/vaccineswork. Two doses of measles-containing vaccine will still be required as part of Ontario’s routine immunization schedule, with one dose given on the child’s first birthday, and a second at age 4. 

“During an outbreak, this earlier dose is strongly advised to help protect infants as they are generally the most impacted by measles complications, such as lung and brain infections, hospitalizations, and death,” says Fletcher.  

Southwestern Public Health declared a measles outbreak on January 29, 2025. At time of publication, a total of 110 cases of measles have been reported to the health unit since October 2024.