LETTER: Recent measles cases are a reminder to vaccinate kids in Surrey
Published 9:00 pm Friday, March 20, 2026
Editor,
Recent measles cases in the Fraser Health region are a reminder for Surrey parents to check their family’s measles vaccination status before travelling this summer.
Nearly a year after B.C. lost its measles-free status, the virus continues to resurface through travel. As of March 12, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported 49 confirmed and probable measles cases in the Fraser Health region. At the same time, only about 71 percent of two-year-olds in Fraser Health are fully up to date on routine vaccines. Many recent infections have been linked to domestic or international travel from areas where measles is circulating.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, and it is most common in children. For infants and young children, complications can be severe, including pneumonia, hospitalization, and long-term health issues. Unvaccinated infants, malnourished children, and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of health complications.
Surrey is one of the province’s fastest-growing and most internationally connected communities. That makes strong vaccination coverage especially important. Travellers who are not fully immunized risk bringing the virus home to children who are not yet vaccinated or who are medically vulnerable.
Protecting children from measles is possible. Vaccines are safe, effective, and widely available. Anyone planning domestic or international travel should ensure they are fully vaccinated before leaving. A quick call to your family doctor or a local public health clinic to book a free MMR vaccination appointment can help keep families in Surrey safe.
Cities like Surrey show that local health depends on global health. If vaccination systems weaken anywhere, diseases like measles can return here, and the reverse can also happen.
If we want Surrey to remain a healthy place for families to grow and thrive, protecting childhood immunization must remain a priority.
Mahnoor Faisal, Master of Public Health candidate, Simon Fraser University