Parents urged to book missed measles jabs for their kids amid fear of outbreaks
The NHS is urging parents to book missed MMR jabs for their children amid fears of widespread outbreaks of measles.
The UK Health Security Agency has declared a national incident, to signal the growing public health risk. About 99% will be protected against measles and rubella after two doses of the triple vaccine, with 88% shielded from mumps. Measles, which can be potentially deadly, usually starts with cold-like symptoms followed by a rash. Some get small spots in the mouth.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “The continuing downward trend in routine childhood vaccinations is a serious concern. Diseases that these vaccines protect against can be life-changing.” The NHS warns measles can lead to “serious problems” if it spreads to other parts of the body. In rare cases it can cause pneumonia, meningitis, even blindness and death. Measles is also a risk to unborn children. It had been almost eliminated in the UK but in recent months cases have been rising.
An illustration of a measles virus particle (Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)The vaccine catch-up push aims to turn back the tide by targeting all parents of children aged six to 11. The call comes after figures showed 216 confirmed measles cases and 103 probable cases in the West Midlands since October 1 last year. Around 80% came from Birmingham, with the remainder in Coventry. Most cases occurred in the under-10s.
The NHS campaign will target areas of low uptake, contacting more than one million people aged 11 to 25 in London and the West Midlands. The first dose of MMR is usually offered to one-year-olds, with the second dose at three years, four months.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
Steve Russell, NHS director of vaccinations and screening, said the health service “is acting quickly to tackle the spread of measles”. He added: “People who are unvaccinated can get catch-up jabs at pop-ups in schools and other convenient places. Measles is serious, with one in five children admitted to hospital. GPs, teachers and trusted community leaders are encouraging groups that are less likely to get their jab to come forward.”
UKHSA chief executive Dame Jenny Harries warned: “Our vaccination rate has dropped to about 85% for children getting to school with two MMR vaccinations, which is what is needed. In some areas, these are going right down to about 70% and that is too low to maintain safe population coverage, we want that at about 95%.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
