Health and Social Services Authority issue updates on measles vaccinations and accessing services

N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority announced important advice for residents about measles vaccines, accessing services and taking precautions if exposed to measles. Anyone who has been exposed to measles and not vaccinated is advised to self-isolate.  

The Health and Social Services Authority is also continuing with contact tracing.

If you have been exposed to measles and are not vaccinated they advise:

• Do not visit health centres or public health in-person for non-urgent concerns if you have been exposed to measles and have been told to stay home and isolate, please follow those guidelines or call 811 for more information. This is essential to help reduce the spread and support Public Health contact tracing.

• If you need to visit a hospital emergency department or community health centre for urgent care, please either call ahead or call 911 and inform them that you are not vaccinated and isolating due to measles exposure. This allows healthcare providers to take appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of further exposure. Contact information for hospitals and health centres across the territory can be found at www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/hospitals-and-health-centres. 

If you want confirmation that you and/or your child has been vaccinated against measles the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority offer this advice:

• In Yellowknife, the MMR vaccine this is a routine vaccine provided as part of the Well Child Program. If your child received regular check-ups and vaccines at Public Health between ages 0-18 months, they may already be vaccinated with MMR and protected against measles. 

• If you think you been exposed to measles and are unsure if you have been vaccinated, please email [email protected] to request a copy of your immunization record. You will need to complete the Request Health Information or Request Health Information on Behalf of Someone Form. To process your request, please include valid identification:
  • If you are requesting information for yourself, provide either:
    • One piece of valid government-issued photo ID (scanned copy), or
    • Two pieces of valid non-photo ID.
    • If you are requesting information on behalf of someone else (other than your child), you must provide ID for both you and the individual you are representing.
  • We appreciate your patience as our staff work to process requests during this time of high demand.

• Yellowknife Public Health is increasing staffing to support record requests and has been working hard to offer vaccines to unvaccinated individuals identified through exposure locations listed in the PHA.

• At this time, public pop-up clinics are not being offered to individuals without known exposure, as resources remain focused on those identified through contact tracing or exposure locations. Updates will be shared at www.nthssa.ca/pop-up-clinics.

• If you received your childhood immunizations outside of Yellowknife, contact the health centre or public health unit in the community you received your vaccinations. If you received vaccinations at multiple locations during your life, you may need to contact all these locations.

Contact Tracing:

Public Health teams are actively conducting contact tracing for confirmed cases to help prevent the spread of measles.

The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority said that guidance for exposed individuals may differ depending on the situation. They advise that efforts may require redirecting resources, which could temporarily affect the availability of other public health services.

The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority urges members of the public to play a role in supporting contact tracking efforts:

If you believe you may have been exposed to measles through the exposure list identified through the Public Health Advisory, or have travelled and are feeling unwell, please refer to the guidance below:

• If you or your child has received two documented doses of MMR vaccine in the Northwest Territories, you or your child are protected from measles and are able to return to school and/or work, even if you have visited one of the exposure locations.

• If you visited an exposure location and you or your child were immunized in another jurisdiction, please e-mail a copy of the immunization records to Yellowknife Public Health at [email protected].

• If you have no proof of immunization or you or your child have not received 2 doses of MMR vaccine, please stay home until you are in contact with Yellowknife Public Health. If you do not receive a call from the Public Health Team, please contact 811 and indicate your exposure location.

General Health Advice for Accessing Services:

The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority reminded residents that during this period of measles exposure across Canada, it is important to do your part to stay protected and protect those around you.

They offered this advice to the public: 

If you develop symptoms during this period, please call 811 for advice or if you require an appointment, please call ahead to your local healthcare provider’s office or public health and inform them of your potential exposure to measles. This will help ensure that you are assessed in a way that minimizes the risk of exposing others.

If you are feeling unwell or have been exposed, it is important that you stay home until you receive further information from your health care provider.

If you have an appointment scheduled at a health centre or hospital and are concerned about measles or think you may have been exposed and need to reschedule your appointment or have questions about mitigation measures in place, please contact 811 for advice. As information changes or more information becomes available, the NTHSSA will update the public and share information on www.nthssa.ca/measles.  

The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority shared a message of appreciation for the cooperation and patience of the public as the work hard to mitigate further exposure or spread of the virus. For more information, guidance related to your current health situation or if you have questions, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and the N.W.T. Health and Social Services Authority as the public to call 811.