Toronto – Measles is a vaccine preventable disease. The vaccine is typically given at 12 months of age, with a second dose given between four to six years of age. Anyone who has not received two doses of the measles vaccine or has not had measles disease is at risk of infection. The vaccine is free for eligible adults through primary care and some walk-in clinics. People born in 1970 or later require two doses of the measles vaccine for the best protection if they have not had the virus. Anyone born before 1970 may have had a measles infection when the virus was common in Canada. Almost all people unsure about their vaccination status can safely receive the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. A blood test can also be done to determine immunity.
