Ned Yeung<p>One thing I totally don't get about the anti-vaccination "logic"... so the measles vaccine is the old-fashioned kind which introduces a bit of weakened virus into the system so your body can identify it to build up a natural immunity.</p><p>So how can anti-vaxxers argue that you should just let yourself get sick with measles, suffer through the whole thing, then as long as you survive you will have immunity and be stronger for it?</p><p>That's exactly what the vaccine does, except safely, without the consequences.</p><p>You are introducing your body to the disease, to build a natural immunity. You can do it safely, or you can do it with great pain and suffering and even the potential of death. So yeah... uh, let's go with Option B to achieve the same result?</p><p>Is that really what's best for your children, and mine?</p><p>Forget about safely learning swordplay with practice wooden or bamboo swords so that you know how to handle it before the time comes when you need it, let's just give everyone real swords and send them off into battle with no training.</p><p>"Don't live in fear," live in chaos.</p><p>So anyways, on to the public health alert for Alberta and Edmonton specifically, even more specifically, people who were at the Stollery Children's Hospital's emergency department between March 14 at 10 p.m. and March 15 at 12:30 a.m. and anyone who was at the Belle Rive Medicentres Family Health Care Clinic in northeast Edmonton on March 12 between 2:15 p.m. and about 5:15 p.m.:</p><p>'Health officials say anyone who was exposed to a possible confirmed case may be at risk of getting sick and is strongly encouraged to review their vaccination records, AHS said.</p><p>Anyone who was potentially exposed and was born in or after 1970, and has less than two documented doses of vaccine, is at risk for developing measles and should monitor themselves for symptoms, AHS said. </p><p>Symptoms include a fever of 38.3° C or higher, a cough, runny nose and red eyes, and a red blotchy rash that appears three to seven days after a fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face.</p><p>People who are pregnant, young children and those with weakened immune systems are among those most at risk for complications from the disease which can include infections of the middle ear and the lung and swelling of the brain.</p><p>According to data from AHS, one to three out of every 1,000 measles cases is fatal. More than 90 per cent of people who are not immune and come into contact with the virus will become infected.</p><p>If symptoms develop, individuals are advised to stay home and call Health Link at 811 before visiting any health-care facility.</p><p>In Alberta, measles vaccine doses are offered, free of charge, through the province's immunization program. People exposed to the disease may also be eligible for vaccine or immune globulin to reduce the risk of developing measles.</p><p>Albertans uncertain of their immunization history are encouraged to call Health Link at 811 or contact their public health office.'</p><p>And finally, a statement by Dr. Mark Joffe, Alberta's chief medical officer of health:</p><p>"Measles is not just a mild childhood illness — it is a serious, highly infectious disease that can have devastating consequences.</p><p>Thankfully, we have a highly effective vaccine with a long-proven track record of safety. Everyone should take the time to check their immunization record to ensure they are fully immunized. No one should have to endure the consequences of a disease we can prevent."</p><p><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-measles-exposures-1.7485363" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ed</span><span class="invisible">monton-measles-exposures-1.7485363</span></a></p><p><a href="https://beige.party/tags/yeg" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>yeg</span></a> <a href="https://beige.party/tags/yyc" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>yyc</span></a> <a href="https://beige.party/tags/abpoli" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>abpoli</span></a> <a href="https://beige.party/tags/vaccination" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>vaccination</span></a> <a href="https://beige.party/tags/measles" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>measles</span></a></p>