![]() ![]() Uptake for the MMR has plunged in recent years with data suggesting one in 10 of 2- year-olds haven't had it, with almost one in 6 of five-year-olds also missing out. Those who have missed one or both doses can book an appointment with their GP. They can do this by checking their child's red book or contacting their GP practice. Health chiefs are now urging parents of young children, teenagers, as well as adults themselves, to check they are up to date on the MMR vaccination. 'Fewer health visitors and pressure on general practice, are both likely contributing to lower vaccine uptake. NHS England data released earlier this year shows that MMR vaccine uptake plunged to just 88.6 per cent for one dose in two year olds, and to 85.5 per cent for both jabs among five year olds However, such surveys often do not capture everyone's, particularly those with more extreme, anti vaccine, views. She said: 'There may be some vaccine hesitancy, though surveys by UKHSA and others suggest this isn't a major reason in the UK. Professor Bedford said Covid making measles seem like less of a threat, a rise in vaccine hesitancy and GP pressures could be blame for the decline in uptake. 'Measles is so highly infectious that even a small decline in uptake can result in outbreaks – we need to maintain uptake of 95 per cent of two doses of MMR vaccine to prevent such outbreaks.' MMR vaccine uptake is now less than 90 per cent. ![]() She said: 'Unfortunately, we have seen a decline in MMR vaccine uptake in recent years. Professor Helen Bedford, an expert in child public health at University College London, said the rises in cases was 'worrying but not surprising'. Nationally, 40 per cent of cases detected so far in 2023 are among children aged under five. It said the remainder were a result of community transmission within England itself, including a cluster of cases related to a school outbreak. This has resulted in some cases being imported to Britain, with a quarter of the cases detected this year being imported from other countries, according to the UKHSA. So far this year, no cases have been spotted in the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.Įxperts said the spike in England is being echoed on a global level after childhood immunisations programmes were disrupted by the Covid pandemic. Two cases have been spotted in each of the East Midlands, South East and East of England, while there is one in the North West. The South West and North East, the next worst-hit regions, have detected six and three, respectively. The capital's vulnerability to the virus has been highlighted before with up to a third of children in some boroughs having gone without their measles jabs. London is currently the nation's measles outbreak hotspot with 33 cases. However, if measles spread to the lungs or brain, it can cause pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures. Symptoms usually improve within a few weeks and be managed by drinking plenty of fluids and taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve a fever. 'Measles spreads very easily and can lead to complications that require a stay in hospital and on rare occasions can cause lifelong disability or death, so it is very concerning to see cases starting to pick up this year,' she said.Ĭold-like symptoms, including a high temperatures, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a cough and red, sore and watery eyes, are usually the first signs of a measles infection.Ī few days later, small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips.Ī rash, made up of raised red blotchy patches that join together, usually appears on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. She warned while measles is usually mild, there was always the risk of a fatal outcome. 'It's never too late to catch up, and you can get the MMR vaccine for free on the NHS whatever your age.' Figures for years prior to 2022 are those which were confirmed by oral fluid testingĭr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: 'We are calling on all parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their 2 MMR doses. While cases plunged due to the measures introduced to curb the spread of Covid experts fear a resurgence. ![]() In comparison 54 cases were recorded for the whole of 2022. Health chiefs have warned parents to check their kids have had their MMR vaccine after they recorded 49 cases of measles so far this year (January to April). ![]()
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