Map shows parts of UK hitting kid's vaccine targets and if your area is on track
Parents are being urged to protect kids against serious diseases like measles and you can see here if your area is on track for vaccine targets.
Infections have been rising across England this year, amid falling uptake of vaccines such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) jab. Today the UK Health Security Agency has launched its campaign to remind parents and carers of the risk of their children missing out on protection against these re-emerging diseases, with an urgent call to action to catch up on missed vaccinations.
It features a powerful video advert told in the voices of children who warn parents that “our generation’s risk of illnesses like measles and whooping cough is rising - if we’re not vaccinated, we’re not protected”. The campaign comes as another 69 cases of measles have been confirmed by lab tests in the last week, bringing the total number of infections since the start of October to 650.
Cases have been particularly high in the West Midlands for some time and are now rising elsewhere in the country, particularly in the north west of England and London. This rising spread of preventable diseases has been blamed on the declining uptake of routine vaccinations offered through the NHS such as the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jab and the six-in-one jab which protects against serious illnesses including whooping cough and polio.
Only 84.5% of children in England received both MMR jabs by their fifth birthday last year - well below the population immunity recommended by the World Health Organisation that is needed to prevent outbreaks. But in many parts of the country, the picture is even worse. Fewer than three in five children in Hackney (56.3%) were fully vaccinated last year, while not one council area of England had an MMR vaccine rate either at or above the WHO target.
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Lower vaccine uptake within communities is directly linked to wider health inequalities, the UKHSA says. Professor Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said: “The ongoing measles outbreak we are seeing is a reminder of the very present threat.
“While the majority of the country is protected, there are still high numbers of children in some areas that continue to be unprotected from preventable diseases. It is not just their own health that can suffer, but other unvaccinated people around them such as school friends, family and those in their community could also experience serious infections.”
The UKHSA’s promotional campaign is co-ordinated with an operational MMR catch-up campaign. Hundreds of thousands of parents of children aged six to 11 will be contacted directly and urged to make an appointment with their child’s GP practice for any missed MMR vaccines. Steve Russell, National Director for Vaccinations and Screening at NHS England, said: “The MMR vaccination offers the best protection against becoming seriously unwell.
“Two doses are needed to get maximum protection, so as well as sending reminders to parents and guardians of children up to five who have yet to get full protection, the NHS has been asking all parents and guardians of children aged six to 11 who have missed one or more doses of the MMR vaccine to book a catch up at their GP practice, or through MMR pop-ups in schools and other convenient places.
“Measles is a serious illness, and in some cases can lead to having to be admitted to hospital for treatment, so the message is clear: if you or your young ones aren’t vaccinated, you aren’t protected, and it is vital you come forward as soon as possible for the MMR jab.” The UKHSA has also warned against a resurgence of whooping cough - with suspected cases seen by GPs so far this year at a decade high.
Children can be protected against whooping cough by the six-in-one jab, which is recommended to be given before their first birthday and also protects against other serious illnesses like polio and diphtheria. But only 28 out of 149 council areas have vaccine coverage either at or above the 95% target rate and 39 local authorities have coverage at below 90%.
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