Half term jabs to fight measles outbreak threat

Half term vaccination clinics have been opened to stop measles getting a foothold

Parents across the East of England have been getting their children vaccinated against measles this half term, following outbreaks in some parts of the country.

Health officials locally say the number of children being vaccinated has fallen below the 95% target rate to make sure the population is protected.

They say the region is "vulnerable to a large scale measles outbreak", with MMR uptake as low as 70% in some areas.

Parents are being urged to get their children jabs if they have yet to do so.

Vaccination clinics are being held around the region

Measles is a highly contagious disease which is spread by coughs and sneezes.

Small white spots may appear inside the mouth and a blotchy red or brown rash usually appears after a few days.

Dr Sarah Whiteman, chief medical director at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, said: "Measles is a serious infection. It can lead to hospitalisation and other complications and, in rare cases, measles can even be fatal.  

"Vaccination rates in all parts of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes are below 95%, and in some areas are as low as 70%. This leaves the region vulnerable to a large scale measles outbreak."

"It is a real concern", says specialist immunisation lead Georgie Brighten

Georgie Brighten, specialist immunisation lead at the Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, has urged families to come forward.

"It is a real concern because we've got quite large numbers of children that we know need to catch up on their vaccinations, so actually getting them through the door and giving them every opportunity is our priority at the moment," she said.

Lucy and her family at a Peterborough clinic, in a city where the vaccination rate is only 78% for five-year-olds having the required two MMR jabs

Lucy is a nurse from Kenya who has moved to Peterborough. She brought her children to be vaccinated at one of the half term clinics.

"We really don't know when we might get the measles or any other disease, and I think all parents should make it a priority for their children," she said.

Families have been encouraged to get their children vaccinated over the half term break

Dr Whiteman added that there were many reasons why children had not received their two MMR jabs.

"We know that some families couldn't attend routine appointments during the Covid-19 pandemic, and many of those children are now at school or coming up to school age," she said.

Anyone with measles symptoms has been advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice, rather than visiting a surgery or A&E.