With the outbreak in the Lower Mainland, and now the case in 100 Mile House, the number of measles vaccinations is up this year across Interior Health.

Figures show 3,780 doses from January 1st to March 7th this year, up from 2,185 last year.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karin Goodison says outbreaks tend to get more people to check their vaccination records.

“In the Thompson-Cariboo-Shushwap region, 87 per cent of kids aged 2 have got measles protection,” she said. “At 7 years, that drops to 73 per cent and so that indicates that some people aren’t getting that second dose, which is important to get that protection.”

Goodison adds it’s hard to say right now if the increase in doses this year, is directly due to the outbreak.

“Particularly because we are just looking at the number of doses given and not necessarily the change in the rate of the population immunized,” she added. “But we will be able to look at that retrospectively after this and probably paint a better picture at that time.”

And as for why the 14 per cent drop in vaccination rates for kids between the age of 2 and 7?

“The first dose is given as part of the routine childhood immunization so parents are going in for their two months, four months, six months and twelve-month shots, so it ties in with that schedule,” Goodison added.

“The second dose is at that kindergarten age. It just might be a reminder for parents with kids at that age to just double check that their doses are up to date at that age.”

Goodison says the area, in general, has a good immunization rate, and so far the risk of the measles spreading beyond the one case in 100 Mile House does not appear to be high.