As a pediatrician, infectious disease specialist, and frontline healthcare provider, I am sounding the alarm on a growing public health emergency: the resurgence of measles in Canada. This entirely preventable disease is spreading, mostly among children who are unvaccinated.

Ontario, the province I live and work in, is currently experiencing its worst measles outbreak since it was eradicated in Canada more than 25 years ago. 

Measles is highly contagious and is not a harmless childhood illness.  It can cause pneumonia, deafness, blindness, brain swelling (encephalitis), lifelong disability, and even death. 

We have the tools to stop this—but we need urgent action from our government and public health leaders. 

What’s Missing?

• Ontario lacks a fully modern, standardized vaccination registry to track immunization coverage across the province.
• Public health vaccination clinics need to be increased and better resourced - especially in areas at risk for outbreaks. Gaps remain and increased staffing and resources are needed.
• In Ontario, the Immunization of School Pupils Act has been in place since 1990 to protect students from serious vaccine preventable diseases. The School Pupils Act should be enforced across the province in order to protect children.

We’re Calling on the Government of Ontario to:

• Modernize and mandate comprehensive provincial vaccination registries to track and report immunization history.
• Increase funding for public health clinics, including school-based immunization programs where possible, which are among the most effective and equitable ways to protect children.
• Work in coordination with federal and local partners to restore Ontario’s measles elimination status and protect our children.

Why This Matters

Without these changes, measles outbreaks will continue to grow—especially in communities facing barriers to care or high vaccine hesitancy. Every delay puts more children at risk.

The measles vaccine is safe. It is effective. And vaccination records need to be easy to access and track. No child in should fall through the cracks.

Measles does not respect school zones or city lines. It spreads quickly, and it spreads everywhere. We must act now.

We call on Premier Doug Ford, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, Members of Provincial Parliament, Ontario Health, and the Ministry of Health to act swiftly, decisively, and collaboratively to protect every child’s right to a safe and healthy future.

Sign this petition and join the call for an Ontario where no child suffers from a vaccine-preventable disease.

—Dr. Anna Banerji, O.Ont., MD, MPH, FRCPC, FAAP, DTM&H CTropMed
Pediatric infectious, tropical disease specialist and global health advocate