Attention Parents of Young School-going Children: Important Vaccination Update
September 1, 2026 – Canada’s chief public health officer is issuing an urgent alert to parents of school-going children to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date before they return to school on September 8.
Dr. Joss Reimer expressed her concerns about the ongoing spread of measles, exacerbated by the widespread misinformation about vaccines circulating online.
While the rates of infection from the multi-province measles outbreak, which began in 2024, appear to be declining, unvaccinated children remain at risk, as people continue to bring the virus into Canada. Measles is known to be “incredibly infectious,” according to Dr. Reimer.
Dr. Reimer highlighted that the national measles immunization rate for two-year-olds stands at only about 85 percent, which is below the 95 percent threshold required to achieve “herd immunity.” Although most provinces have declared the outbreak over at different times over the past year, the Public Health Agency of Canada reports that Manitoba has still seen recent cases.
Pediatricians recommend that children receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine – the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at 18 months or around the time they start school, depending on the province.
Dr. Reimer advises parents to check their child’s vaccination records and contact a primary care provider or their local public health unit if they cannot locate them.
“I know there’s a lot to consider when preparing for back-to-school. However, this is an excellent opportunity to double-check your child’s vaccinations before they enter an environment where viruses can spread easily,” she said.
“Of course, parents will have questions, and I encourage them to seek answers when considering any health interventions for their children. It’s essential they have access to reliable information,” Dr. Reimer emphasized.
To help, parents can find evidence-based information on childhood vaccinations on public health websites and those of medical associations like the Canadian Pediatric Society.
Moreover, it’s not just measles that’s a concern. A leading group of Canadian medical experts and pediatricians is also worried about other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as mumps and rubella, which the MMR vaccine protects against.
Dr. Reimer also pointed out that Australia is currently experiencing diphtheria outbreaks.
“There’s no reason why this couldn’t happen here as well,” she warned, noting that vaccination rates for this serious bacterial infection are below 80 percent among two-year-olds in Canada.
Children should receive multiple doses of the vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and polio, starting at two months of age, according to the Canadian Immunization Guide. Dr. Reimer recommends that parents not only consult the guide but also seek advice from their child’s doctor as soon as possible.
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