Bradford families urged to get MMR vaccine after rise in measles

The vaccine rate in Bradford is below the target of 95%

A new push to encourage Bradford families to get their children vaccinated against childhood diseases begins on Monday.

It comes after an increase in measles in the area, with vaccination rates across the country at a 10-year low.

More than one in 10 Bradford children aged five have not had the MMR vaccine, according to NHS data.

An NHS spokesperson said the "ongoing measles outbreak is a very present threat".

Bradford health chiefs will be targeting areas where the vaccine rate is lowest and encouraging parents and guardians with children up to five years to get any missed jabs.

NHS research shows that 83.6% of five-year-olds in the district have had two doses of the vaccine.

The World Health Organisation target rate is 95%.

In December, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared a national incident in response to an increase in measles cases in England.

A number of special clinics will run from schools across the Bradford district from Monday until mid-April, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Sarah Muckle, Bradford Council's director of public health, said: "Childhood immunisation has been one of the major health successes in the UK preventing thousands of deaths.

"We've seen recently that childhood diseases are on the increase again so it's vital that parents and carers protect their children.

"We're urging them to make sure their child is up-to-date with their vaccines."

The vaccines are free and are available on the NHS

The school immunisation service will only be using the Priorix® vaccine which contains no pork gelatine.

The UKHSA said it had recorded 650 cases of measles since October - the majority of cases were recorded in the West Midlands but clusters were now being seen in other parts of the country, including Yorkshire and the Humber.

Last week Professor Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UKHSA, said: "We need an urgent reversal of the decline in the uptake of childhood vaccinations to protect our communities.

"Through this campaign we are particularly appealing to parents to check their children's vaccination status and book appointments if their children have missed any immunisations.

"The ongoing measles outbreak we are seeing is a reminder of the very present threat."

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