Immunization rates dropping in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG – The number of children being vaccinated in Winnipeg has dropped significantly over a decade.

Only 69.5 per cent of seven-year-olds in Winnipeg had finished the complete set of vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella (known as the MMR) in 2011, down from 78.7 per cent in 2002, says a report compiled by United Way and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Only 54.6 per cent of seven-year-olds in Manitoba had all their scheduled immunizations – including shots for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, for example – according to Manitoba Health’s annual immunization surveillance report for 2011.

Health experts are concerned by the dropping immunization rates, especially after measles cases were reported in Manitoba and outbreaks were recently declared in Alberta and B.C. There have been seven confirmed cases of measles in Manitoba so far this year.

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