12 March 2024 , 00:01
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Health chiefs are running a measles vaccination drive to hold back outbreaks of the disease.
NHS England is inviting almost a million 19 to 25-year-olds from infection epicentres for jabs. In rare cases measles can cause cognitive disabilities, blindness and deafness. It can also kill – one in 5,000 children with measles will die.
UK Health Security Agency data shows 733 cases from October to March, with the real number probably much higher. Steve Russell, NHS England vaccines boss, said: “Measles, mumps and rubella are preventable. But catching them is easy when people are unvaccinated.”
More than 900,000 unvaccinated 19 to 25-year-olds in the West Midlands, London and Manchester will be sent vaccine invitations from today. Last week 200,000 unvaccinated 16 to 19-year-olds in those areas got NHS jab reminders.
The WHO stripped the UK of its measles-free status last year due to low vaccine uptake. Uptake declined from 1998, when Andrew Wakefield falsely linked the MMR to autism. Prof Andrew Pollard, chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said: “The virus will kill if the outbreak is not contained.”
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