Canada’s chief medical officer of health is warning people to make sure they have had two doses of measles vaccine, especially if they are travelling. That message, coming just before the heavy travel period of March break, is urgent this year with cases of measles spiking around the world and vaccination rates lagging, including across Canada.

It is also potentially complicated. Many adults are not aware of their vaccination status, and particularly whether they have had one or two measles vaccines. As well, a growing percentage of the population is without family doctors, making it more difficult to access care.

Measles can cause serious illness and even be deadly. Among potential severe complications are pneumonia, deafness and brain damage caused by inflammation of the brain.