PREPARED BY: Emergency Preparedness
DATE: 2025-05-15
SUBJECT: Measles Prevention - IAW Vaccination Strategy
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
Given the recent measles activity in Windsor and Essex County and across Ontario, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) continues to strongly recommend everyone stays up to date on immunizations. The best way to protect against measles is for all individuals to be immunized. The measles virus spreads easily when an infected person coughs or sneezes, spreading droplets that contain the virus into the air. The virus can live on surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, utensils, etc.) and can also live up to 2 hours in the air after the person with the infection has left the enclosed space. If a person is exposed to someone with measles and they have not been vaccinated with any doses of measles vaccine, they will be unable to work or attend school and MUST isolate for up to 21 days following the exposure.
The congregate living arrangements that exist for many International Agriculture Workers (IAWs) in Windsor-Essex, create challenges given the highly infectious nature of measles. There are estimated to be between 8,000 -10,000 IAWs working and living in Windsor-Essex, the majority in the Leamington and Kingsville area. There are approximately 255 farms operating in Windsor and Essex County with well over 1500 accommodations that are inspected annually by the WECHU. The agri-food sector in Windsor and Essex County was impacted greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important for IAWs to be immunized against measles since the risk of infection is high in this group. New IAWs are often arriving throughout the year, meaning not all may have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, while the risk of transmission within congregate settings is higher than in typical living situations. Spread of measles amongst this population could harm their ability to work and potentially disrupt the local supply chain and economy.
In order to improve access to important preventative vaccination opportunities for IAWs, in April, the WECHU, in collaboration with Windsor-Essex Community Health Centre (WECHC) and Mobile Medical Support (MMS) offered vaccination clinics, both onsite as well as in open community spaces to ensure that IAWs working in Windsor and Essex receive at least one dose of MMR vaccine, if they are currently unvaccinated.
DISCUSSION
During the period of Tuesday April 1 and Thursday April 17, the WECHU, MMS and WECHC provided immunizations to approx. 3747 IAWs. Those eligible for vaccine at these clinics were individuals who were previously unimmunized (no doses) or individuals with one dose of measles preventing vaccine. Several clinics were supported at on-site farm locations, and others took place in community settings within the Leamington area. Ongoing opportunities to receive vaccine for those eligible will continue on Sundays at the WECHC Leamington Office.