Vancouver Coastal Health is urging British Columbians between 22 and 46 to get a second dose of the mumps vaccine following a recent outbreak of the disease.
There are now 41 people suffering from swelling of the salivary glands across Whistler, Squamish, Vancouver and North Vancouver, according to a release from Vancouver Coastal Health. Mumps is often considered a childhood ailment. The average age of those recently afflicted is 33.
“Due to their age, most of those infected with mumps likely only had one dose of mumps vaccine and so were not fully protected,” stated Dr. Althea Hayden in a release.
VCH is reminding everyone born after Jan. 1, 1970, to get a second dose.
The recent vulnerability is the result of only one dose of mumps vaccine being administered in B.C. until 1996.
Residents older than 46 who have had mumps are considered protected, according to the release.
However, anyone unsure if they got the second dose can safely get another dose of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine, according to VCH.
The vaccine is available free of charge at public health units and most walk-in clinics.
Complications from mumps can include meningitis and deafness.
