Measles: Parents told to rebook missed MMR vaccine appointments

Vaccine rates in Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool are too low, health officials have warned

Health bosses are urging parents to rebook any missed mumps, measles and rubella vaccine (MMR) appointments.

Data showed the North East and north Cumbria had the highest uptake in England, but second doses fell below what is required to avoid outbreaks.

Parts of Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool are at risk because numbers are "not high enough".

One health chief said measles is a highly infectious disease but "completely preventable".

Dangers including blindness, deafness and swelling of the brain.

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Children require two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first dose given around their first birthday and the second dose given at three years and four months old.

Both doses are needed to ensure full and lasting protection against MMR, according to the NHS.

NHS North of England Care System Support (NECS) data shows in 2022-23, of the 33,937 five- years-olds in the North East and north Cumbria, 96% received their first MMR vaccination however, only 91% received their second.

Dr Neil O'Brien, medical director at the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: "Spending just 15 minutes or more in direct contact with someone infected is enough to catch measles, making it one of the most infectious diseases in the world."

Dr O'Brien added: "Whilst overall MMR rates in our region are good, there are still some localised places where it is not high enough to prevent a rapid spread of measles; including areas of Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool."

Cumbria's director of public health Colin Cox said: "Measles can be a very serious illness but getting vaccinated is safe, free of charge and offers the best possible protection."