The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned parents of a ‘very concerning’ surge in measles ahead of the new school year.
The health agency is stepping up its efforts to boost childhood vaccinations by reminding parents of the dangers of children missing out on protection against measles – as well as against other diseases such as meningitis, polio and whooping cough.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, has called on parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their two MMR doses.
‘Measles spreads very easily and can lead to complications that require a stay in hospital and on rare occasions can cause lifelong disability or death, so it is very concerning to see cases starting to pick up this year. Vaccines are our best line of defence against diseases like measles, mumps and rubella and help stop outbreaks occurring in the community,’ she said.
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Measles spreads easily among those who are unvaccinated. It often begins with a fever, red and watery eyes, a runny or blocked nose followed by a rash, and can sometimes lead to severe illness or even death.
New UKHSA data showed a rise in measles cases in England, with 49 cases between January 1 and April 20, compared to 54 cases for the whole of 2022.
Moreover, the health agency reported a fall in measles vaccinations, with uptake of the first MMR dose in two-year-olds in England reaching 89%, while uptake of two doses by age five is at just 85%. This is well below the 95% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to eliminate the disease.
The MMR vaccine is offered to all children in the UK. Two doses can give lifelong protection against measles, mumps, and rubella. One is offered at the age of one, a second at three years and four months, as part of the NHS routine childhood-vaccination programme.
Steve Russell, NHS director of vaccinations and screening said that NHS had an ‘inspiring history of successful vaccination programmes,’ saving over 4,500 lives from diseases like measles.
‘The MMR vaccine has helped prevent the development of potentially life-threatening illness among millions, and it is clear that when uptake falls, infections rise, so I strongly urge parents to review the status of their child’s vaccinations so they can keep them and others protected from measles, mumps and rubella.’