Kids must have MMR jab, parents are told
Parents are being urged to ensure their children have received both doses of the MMR vaccine before they return to school following the summer holidays.
Almost double the number of confirmed measles cases in England and Wales were reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in the first six months of 2012 (964), compared to the same period in 2011 (497).
Meanwhile, confirmed rubella cases also hit a nine-year high (57).
Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the HPA, said: 'It's vital that children receive both doses of the MMR vaccination, and ahead of returning to school after the holidays, we are urging parents to ensure their children have received the two doses.'