As families prepare for the end of the school year and the beginning of summer camps, public health officials and camp leaders have included measles as a concern to monitor.
Some public health units have issued warnings due to ongoing measles outbreaks in several provinces, advising camps to maintain immunization records should an infection occur.
“We’ve essentially stated that getting vaccinated against measles this year acts like a small insurance plan — it’s your pass to remain at camp,” remarked Jack Goodman, director of Camp New Moon in Baysville, Ont.
While certain provinces, such as Ontario and New Brunswick, mandate vaccinations against measles for school attendance, summer camps do not have this requirement.
Goodman noted that the policies will be determined by each individual camp.
Ontario has reported the country’s largest measles outbreak, with 1,888 cases documented since last October, as of May 29. Alberta has experienced over 600 cases since early March, and outbreaks have also been identified in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.
A recent communication from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit in Ontario, a popular area for summer cottages, advised recreational summer camps that it “strongly encourages camps to gather immunization details for all campers and staff.”
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If a measles case arises during camp, camps will need to promptly share the immunization statuses with the health unit.
Those suspected of infection will need to be kept isolated, and anyone testing positive will likely be required to return home and isolate for 21 days, as per public health recommendations.
Goodman, who led the Ontario Camps Association’s COVID-19 task force guiding summer camps through health restrictions during the pandemic, noted that dealing with the rise of measles is not as daunting as managing COVID-19.
“The significant advantage is that over 92-93% of our Ontario population is vaccinated against measles,” he pointed out.
“Thus, while there’s a tangible risk of measles appearing at camp, we’re significantly less worried about it.”
According to Public Health Ontario, only 70% of seven-year-olds in the province were fully vaccinated against measles in the 2023-24 school year, down from over 90% for 17-year-olds.
This figure for seven-year-olds dropped from 86% in 2019.
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An article in the Canadian Journal of Public Health released in October 2024 highlighted a decline in measles vaccinations among seven-year-olds across the country, dropping from 86% in 2019 to 76% in 2023.
Dr. Ninh Tran, the health officer at Southwestern Public Health in Ontario, informed Global News that camps won’t need to shut down if a child contracts measles.
However, those who aren’t fully vaccinated will be sent home if there’s a measles outbreak at the camp, following protocols similar to those used in schools during outbreaks.
Dr. Tran emphasized the importance of parents keeping immunization records readily available.
“Having records of your child’s two doses is essential,” he stated.
“For those who aren’t current with vaccinations, I advise getting updated for better protection, as well as to avoid disruptions at camps this summer,” he added.
For children who are not fully vaccinated, they may be allowed back at camp if they obtain their second dose and present proof of it.
Dr. Tran pointed out that measles cases are more common during winter and spring, but vigilance is required year-round.
“That’s why we are in contact with camp operators, advising them on how to prepare for possible measles cases and prevent outbreaks,” he explained.
A fresh poll from the Angus Reid Institute indicates that almost 70% of Canadians are in favor of requiring childhood vaccinations for schools and daycare centers.
© 2025 Global News, a part of Corus Entertainment Inc.
