Health officials will be opening special immunization clinics in Calgary on Wednesday to help prevent the spread of measles after an outbreak of the disease was declared on Tuesday.

There are nine cases in the City of Calgary, with 22 province-wide.

By declaring an outbreak, Alberta Health Services can move forward and immunize children as young as six months.

Under regular circumstances, children are vaccinated against measles at a year old.

Before then, infants are unprotected and highly vulnerable to the disease.

Parents are also being told not to wait until their child is six before they get the final measles booster, they should do it right away when their child turns four.

Many parents in Calgary and outlying areas are already lining up to get their children immunized against the disease.

Mike Gaskell came in to make sure that he and his children were completely up to date on their vaccinations.

"Coming from B.C., I phoned them earlier this year and they didn't have any records on me getting it, but I assume I got it. The first one at least. I came in to get the second dose, more for the kids, just to make sure they're totally safe."

He says that the alert from AHS really prompted him to get things done. "I didn't really think about it before, but now I just have to get it done. I had no idea you needed two shots, even."

Health authorities are still stressing the importance of getting vaccinated because of the sheer amount of people travelling in the world.

“Measles disease is just a plane ride away. So, as people travel throughout the world and as there are pockets of significant amounts of people in our population that are not protected, then we will see measles disease here and we will see more of it. It’s highly contagious and it will find those who are not protected,” says Marcia Johnson, medical officer of health.

Children who have already received the regular schedule of the measles vaccine do not require any further immunization.

The measles vaccine is available free of charge in Alberta.

Immunization clinics will be open in Calgary on the following dates and locations:

Northgate Measles Immunization Clinic – A#154, 495 36 Street N.E.

  • Wed., April 30, 2014 – 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. (as previously announced)
  • Wed., May 07, 2014 – 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

South Calgary Health Centre Measles Immunization Clinic* – 3 floor, 31 Sunpark Plaza S.E.

  • Wed., April 30, 2014 – 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. (as previously announced)
  • Sat., May 3, 2014 – 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (as previously announced)
  • Tues., May 6, 2014 – 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Sat., May 10, 2014 – 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • *Public is reminded that this is NOT located in the South Health Campus

Brentwood Village Mall Measles Immunization Clinic – Unit 302, 3630 Brentwood Road N.W.

  • Sat., May 3, 2014 – 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (as previously announced)
  • Thurs, May 8, 2014 – 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Sat, May 10, 2014 – 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vaccines are available for:

  • Infants six months of age to less than 12 months of age
  • Children 12 months of age or older who have not yet received their first dose of measles vaccine
  • Children four years of age and older who have not yet received their second dose of measles vaccine
  • Individuals born in or after 1970 who have not received two doses of measles vaccine
  • Health care workers, regardless of year of birth, who are not immune to measles

Full information on the measles outbreak and clinics can be found on the AHS website.