A NEW campaign has been launched to warn parents of the serious risk to children’s health from measles after the latest figures revealed the take-up of the MMR vaccine had dropped to the lowest level for a decade.
The Health Security Agency and NHS are urging parents and guardians to get their children the jabs they are due.
Around seven per cent of children aged five in the West Midlands are not up-to-date with their two doses and now the UK.
Coverage for the two doses of the MMR vaccine in five-year olds in England is currently 86.3 per cent in the West Midlands region, well below the 95 per cent World Health Organisation’s target needed to achieve and sustain measles elimination.
Coverage of the first dose of the MMR vaccine in two-year olds is 94.4 per cent in the West Midlands. This means that around 3 in 20 children starting school in the region are at risk of catching measles.
Measles is highly contagious so even a small decline in MMR uptake can lead to a rise in cases.
As international travel resumes, it is more likely that measles will be brought in from countries that have higher levels of the disease and so it is important that we recover MMR vaccination rates to help prevent a rise in cases.
Other statistics reveal 53 per cent of West Midlands parents are unaware of the risks measles and its complications pose and more than 70 per cent do not realise it can be fatal.
Angela Cartwright, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control leading on vaccine preventable diseases for UKHSA West Midlands, said: “Measles is highly contagious – it can infect nine9 in 10 non-immune children – that is those who are either unvaccinated or have not been infected previously.
“More than half of parents in the West Midlands don’t realise how dangerous measles is, and that it can lead to complications such as ear and chest infections, fits, diarrhoea and dehydration in younger children.
“While on rare occasions, there can be infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), or the brain itself (encephalitis), which can lead to long term disabilities or even death.
“That’s why it is vital parents make sure their children have the MMR vaccine – which gives 99% protection against both measles and rubella.
“Starting nursery and school increases the risk of exposure to infectious diseases, so your children should have their MMR vaccines as soon as eligible – around one year old for the first dose and at about three years and four months for the second, before starting school.
“Worryingly, around three in every 20 children starting school in the West Midlands are at risk from measles, because they have either just had one MMR jab or are totally unvaccinated.
“So, if your children are not up to date with their MMR vaccines, do make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.”
Parents unsure if their child is up-to-date with all their routine vaccinations should check their child’s Red Book (personal child health record) or contact their GP where they can also book appointments for the jab.
Visit nhs.uk/MMR for more.
