Lessons from Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccination Strategies: Implications for Preventing Measles Resurgence in Canada

The resurgence of measles in Canada has raised concerns about poor vaccination coverage and disruptions to routine immunization programs following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, Canada lost its measles elimination status due to sustained measles transmission across multiple provinces. The reported cases primarily involved populations that were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. This paper reviews successful vaccination strategies implemented during COVID-19 and assesses their applicability to measles prevention efforts. The return of measles cases in Canada after the COVID-19 outbreak demonstrates some of the difficulties in sustaining immunization rates in the general population. Even though Canada eliminated measles from its territory in the past, some challenges remain today.