Measles at Disneyland: Fraser Health reminds parents to vaccinate

After a measles outbreak at Disneyland, Fraser Health is urging parents to get their children immunized before spring break.

"It's a small world after all," Medical Health Officer Dr. Michelle Murti told The Early Edition's Rick Cluff.

"That's what we're really learning with all the measles that has happened internationally and even locally."

Murti said30 per cent of children within Fraser Health's area haven't completed their recommended immunizations by two years of age, a number that has stayed the same in recent years.

She said when news broke about measles at Disneyland, the health authority started getting phone calls from parents wanting to vaccinate their kidsmore calls than during a measles outbreak in the Fraser Valley.

"We're trying to take advantage of this interest in getting their immunizations up to date, reminding people that it's important."

The immunization for measles is two doses. Murti said the first dose offers about 95 per cent protection from measles, with the second dose bumping coverage up to around 98 per cent.

To hear the full interview with Dr. Michelle Murti, click the audio labelled: Dr. Michelle Murti urges parents to vaccinate.