As public health services in Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon struggle to return to pre-pandemic levels, a significant backlog in routine school vaccinations is raising the risk of infectious diseases like measles, according to the latest annual review by Peel Public Health.
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kate Bingham, reported to the Regional Council that only about 70% of healthcare services in the Region of Peel, disrupted or scaled down during the pandemic, have been reinstated. The review highlighted that catching up on school vaccinations will require several years and additional resources.
Complications have arisen from an inefficient provincial records system and unreported vaccinations during the pandemic, exacerbated by ongoing staffing shortages and recruitment challenges. Furthermore, the report noted a growing ‘vaccine fatigue’ post-pandemic, which is contributing to delays in keeping children’s vaccinations up to date. To combat this, Peel Public Health is planning targeted communications to boost parental awareness of the importance of submitting their children’s immunization records.
The urgency of this situation is underscored by the increasing presence of measles, with 11 confirmed cases in Ontario so far this year—up from seven in all of 2023. Several of these cases involved individuals who visited crowded places in Mississauga, such as Pearson Airport, busy retail stores, and a restaurant.
The review also pointed out funding disparities, noting that Peel Public Health received significantly less provincial funding per capita in 2022 compared to other major cities like Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa.
The Ontario Health Coalition has indicated that increasing the healthcare capacity in the region, including the need for an additional hospital in Brampton alongside the Peel Memorial upgrade, will require increased funding.
Peel Public Health is urging residents to be vigilant about measles, which can manifest as fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, sleepiness, irritability, small white spots inside the mouth, and a red blotchy rash starting on the face and spreading to the body.
For further information on vaccinations and to learn more about the services and clinics offered by Peel Public Health, please visit www.peelregion.ca/public-health.