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ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — As Quebec health officials deal with a measles outbreak affecting 119 people, a new study says Canada needs a national database to help prevent and deal with future incidents.

“A key step forward is to track immunization status from birth,” said Colin Busby, co-author of “A Shot in the Arm: How to Improve Vaccination Policy in Canada.”

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The research paper released Thursday by the C.D. Howe Institute was funded by the economic think-tank and reviewed by immunization researchers, Busby said in an interview.

It finds that coverage across the country ranges from 70 to 95 per cent of children, depending on the vaccine.

A key step forward is to track immunization status from birth

Vaccination rates of about 95 per cent or more are generally considered ideal for a population to develop so-called protective “herd immunity.”

Only Newfoundland and Labrador topped 95 per cent for all shots studied, including measles, mumps, chicken pox, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.