Attention: Students and Parents:

The Ontario government and the province’s public health units are encouraging young adults to receive their measles, mumps,

rubella (MMR) vaccine. The move comes in response to mumps outbreaks in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, British Columbia

and Ontario.

Young adults, who may be at risk of developing mumps, are being offered a chance to be protected in a catch-up program organized by the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit. College and university students are particularly at risk because they may not have received a second dose of mumps vaccine required for full protection and they live and socialize in close proximity. Some secondary school students are also at risk and should participate in this catch-up program before they leave for university or college.

Most people born between 1970 and 1991 received only a single dose of the combined MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and are at risk for mumps. People born in 1992 or after should have received two doses of the MMR vaccine. People born before 1970 are assumed to be immune to mumps through natural infection. To be fully protected from contracting mumps, two doses of the MMR vaccine are required.

What is mumps and how is it spread? Mumps is an infection that causes fever, headache, and painful swelling of the glands inside the mouth. Mumps is usually a mild disease but sometimes can have serious complications such as swelling of the brain or its protective surface (encephalitis or meningitis), temporary or permanent deafness, and swelling of the testes or ovaries which may rarely result in infertility (not be able to have children). Mumps is spread by close or direct contact with oral and respiratory secretions of people with mumps (coughing and sneezing, kissing, sharing drinks and utensils, etc). Catch it and you’ll have to spend 9 days in isolation.

In March of 2009, MMR immunization clinics will be offered at your school. Visit your school nurse to obtain a consent form. This form must be filled out and returned to your nurse before March 1st.

MMR vaccinations are also available through family doctors or at the Chatham-Kent Public Health clinical services (WISH Centre). All young adults are encouraged to review their personal immunization record to determine if they need a second dose of the vaccine.

For more please contact your health care provider or Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit @ 519-355-1071 ext. 5900.