Measles cases across Canada: What pharmacists need to know
Canada loses measles elimination status after nearly three decades
Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status after nearly 30 years, following a year-long outbreak that has resulted in more than 5,000 confirmed cases across the country, primarily within under-vaccinated communities.
Pharmacists are likely to see more patients seeking information about symptoms, vaccination, and prevention. As trusted immunization advocates and accessible health-care providers, pharmacy professionals play a key role in supporting vaccine confidence and helping prevent further outbreaks.
Pharmacists: Trusted immunization advocates
Pharmacists are among the most accessible health-care providers in Canada, and they play a critical role in promoting immunization and addressing vaccine hesitancy. As the outbreak intensifies, pharmacy professionals are often the first point of contact for patients with concerns or questions about measles. CPhA has developed a concise, accessible resource to support these conversations:
Measles: What You Need to Know
This quick-reference tool covers key topics, including:
- Recognizing symptoms
- How measles spreads
- Prevention strategies
- Vaccination recommendations
Explore CPS clinical content
For pharmacists looking to expand their clinical knowledge on measles and related topics, CPS Full Access includes in-depth, up-to-date content tailored to pharmacy practice:
Routine Childhood Vaccinations (CPS chapter)
This chapter addresses:
- Common questions about childhood vaccines
- Managing missed or interrupted schedules
- Administering multiple vaccines
- Pain management strategies
- An FAQ infographic to support conversations with vaccine-hesitant parents
Viral Skin Rashes (CPS chapter)
Includes updated content on:
- The increasing incidence of measles due to inadequate vaccination
- The complications of measles
- New photos and descriptions of symptoms in skin of colour.
Addressing vaccine hesitancy: Practical tools for pharmacy teams
Pharmacists can play an important role in vaccine uptake, especially when it comes to supporting parents and caregivers. Here’s a collection of resources to help make childhood vaccination experiences more comfortable, effective and informed.
Practice tools and resources
- Caregiver Checklist: Preparing for a child’s vaccine appointment (PDF)
- Pharmacy Top Tips for Childhood Vaccination (PDF)
The CARD system (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract)
The evidence-based CARD system is designed to reduce fear and improve the vaccination experience for patients of all ages: