A million children who missed out on getting the MMR vaccine in England are being targeted in a campaign to raise the level of protection against measles after an outbreak in Wales. 2013 is set to be the worst year for measles outbreaks in 20 years
Health officials in England have launched a campaign to immunise a million children, aged between 10 and 16, with the MMR vaccine following an outbreak in Wales. They warned further measles outbreaks could occur 'anywhere'.
Special clinics are being set up in schools and GP surgeries at a cost of £20 million. There's already been a worrying rise in cases in the north-east and north-west.
Medical Editor Lawrence McGinty reports:
2013 is expected to be the worst year for measles in the UK for the past two decades. Read more about the illness and how it is treated.
15 cases of measles have been recorded in the East Midlands in the first three months of this year.
13 cases of measles have been recorded in the West Midlands in the first three months of this year.