Parents urged to vaccinate children as officials warn of measles school surge
There have been 2,278 lab-confirmed measles cases in England from the start of 2024 up to August 5, as ITV News Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry reports
Parents are being urged to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against “easily preventable” diseases such as measles as health officials issued a warning over a potential surge in cases ahead of the beginning of the new school year.
A six-week campaign by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England is being launched amid concerns that uptake of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is still too low in some areas of England.
There was a surge of measles cases in England in 2023 following an outbreak of the disease in Birmingham, which sparked an MMR catch-up campaign.
According to the UKHSA, in the last 12 months, the NHS has administered 180,000 additional MMR doses, with more than 51,000 of these given to children aged five or under.
More than 13% of previously unvaccinated children younger than five had their first dose of the jab during the period, while uptake of the second dose among black, Caribbean or African children aged between three and five was up by 4.9%.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “Two MMR jabs offer the best and safest protection against measles but if unvaccinated children are at risk of serious illness or life-long complications.
“No parent wants this for their child.”
Dr Saliba added: “It is encouraging that parents whose children have missed vaccines are now coming forward, but we are a long way from ensuring all are protected and safe.
“And importantly vaccination is also about not spreading the disease to others who may be more vulnerable.
“Measles is highly infectious and is still circulating in many areas across the country.
“It only takes one case to get into a school or nursery where many children are unprotected for numbers to suddenly surge.”
Davina Barrett, from Walsall, said it was “awful” when her then three-month-old son Ezra contracted the illness.
“We were so shocked at how bad Ezra got quite quickly,” she said.
“The rash spread rapidly and covered his entire body.
“Seeing him struggling to breathe and being hooked up to oxygen was awful.
“I had no idea measles could make babies so ill.
“Parents need to know that they are not just protecting their own child, but that the MMR vaccine could save the life of a baby like Ezra who is too young to have his own protection.
“Measles can be nasty but it’s entirely preventable.”
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UKHSA data shows there have been 2,278 lab-confirmed measles cases in England from the start of 2024 up to August 5.
In the four weeks to August 5, there were 153 cases, most of which were in London.
Steve Russell, national director for vaccinations and screening at NHS England, said: “The NHS is clear that measles can be really dangerous and so it is critical that children get vaccinated.
“So far, NHS efforts have led to thousands more young people getting protected, with over 13% of previously unvaccinated children under the age of five getting protected, but we know there is more to do.
“We are encouraging parents to come forward if their children are not fully protected and have been invited by their GP.”
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