Maria Caulfield, Member of Parliament for Lewes and a Health Minister, has urged parents to make sure their child is up to date with their MMR vaccinations, amid rising cases of measles in England.
Following a rapid rise in cases of measles in the West Midlands since October, the UK Health Security Agency has now declared a national incident and has warned that outbreaks of measles will spread to other towns and cities unless action is taken to increase vaccination uptake.
MMR is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme – with one dose offered at one year and another second dose at 3 years 4 months. Parents whose infants missed out, or anyone of any age who has not yet had a vaccine, are urged to come forward. The free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, as well as mumps and rubella.
Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools. It can be a very unpleasant illness and in some children can be very serious, leading to hospitalisation and tragically even death in rare cases. People in certain at-risk groups including babies and young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immunity, are at increased risk of complications from measles.
Over 99% of those who have 2 doses of the MMR vaccine will be protected against measles and rubella. The vaccine also provides protection against mumps, which can be very painful with complications including inflammation of the ovaries and testicles, and in rare cases, the pancreas. Although mumps protection is slightly lower, cases in vaccinated people are much less severe, highlighting the importance of the MMR vaccination.
Maria Caulfield MP said:
“Measles is a serious but entirely preventable disease.
“The MMR vaccine is proven to be safe for youngsters and offers lifelong protection.
“I’m urging everyone whose child is not yet fully vaccinated to come forward and get them protected as soon as possible”.