Canada Loses Measles-Free Status After 27 Years

Published 17 hours ago

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Above: A sign outside of Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ontario, on July 9, 2025. Image copyright: Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

To lose this elimination status is devastating and sad. However, health officials have been coordinating across all levels of government, implementing evidence-based responses and slowing transmission through strong public health measures. The vaccine remains highly effective and restoration efforts are already underway.

Canada.ca Global News

Timothy Caulfield on Bluesky Social

Government-critical narrative

Canada's loss of measles-free status is an embarrassing public health failure. Vaccination rates have plummeted to dangerous levels, and the collapse exposes critical weaknesses in surveillance systems. Attributing the public health failure solely to vaccine misinformation overlooks and excuses the role that those in power played in contributing to it.

Ottawa Citizen National Post

Andrea Dekeseredy on X

Establishment-critical narrative

Labeling vaccine-related concerns as “disinformation” risks dismissing genuine health concerns and undermines trust. Some people raise questions about documented side-effects or long-term impacts, and treating those voices as bad actors prevents open dialogue, discourages reporting of adverse events and ultimately undermines informed decision-making and personal freedom.

Harvard Public Health Magazine