Sir Keir Starmer issued a direct plea to London parents to get their children vaccinated against measles as health chiefs were scrambling to contain a “big outbreak” in the north of the capital.
The Prime Minister’s intervention highlighted how worried the Government is about the outbreak in Enfield.
“It’s concerning to see more children getting measles,” Sir Keir, MP for Holborn and St Pancras, messaged on X.
“We’re urging all parents to check their children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations.”
He stressed that vaccines are “safe, effective and can be life saving”.
It’s concerning to see more children getting measles.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 17, 2026
Vaccines are safe, effective and can be life saving. We’re urging all parents to check their children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations.
Our country expects its leaders to stand firmly behind science to…
Taking a swipe at Nigel Farage’s Reform UK for giving a stage to a doctor who wrongly claimed Covid jabs were linked to cancers affecting the King and Princess of Wales, the PM added: “Public health isn’t a culture war.
“It’s about keeping our communities safe.
“Our country expects its leaders to stand firmly behind science to protect our children, not to give oxygen to conspiracy theories.”
Earlier, a minister warned that conspiracy theories about the safety of the measles vaccine must be “busted” to stop outbreaks in London.
Health minister Stephen Kinnock stressed that the Government was “very concerned” about the big outbreak in north London.
Health chiefs were racing to understand how the virus was spreading in Enfield to prevent the outbreak from taking hold in a wider area.
Dozens of cases have already been reported.
In a worst case scenario, health bosses say 160,000 Londoners could be infected by the virus in a huge outbreak.
“We are very concerned about this,” Mr Kinnock told BBC Breakfast on the north London outbreak.
“It’s so important that people get vaccinated, and it’s so important as well that they get their children vaccinated.”
Dismissing discredited claims of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, he stressed that the jab was “completely safe in terms of the science”.
He added: “It’s very important that we bust all of these myths that there are around vaccination and conspiracy theories.
“They’re all total nonsense.
“Let’s have that sensible and robust conversation and get the word out there that people need to get vaccinated, and need to get their children vaccinated too.”
Pressed on Enfield reportedly having a lower vaccination rate than Malawi and only slightly better than Afghanistan, he stressed: “We need to really get to the bottom of why that’s happening.
“What’s happening in Enfield, which really is inhibiting people from getting these vaccinations.”
He emphasised the need to change “behaviours” to boost vaccination rates, which are low in many parts of London, and reduce the risk of measle outbreaks.
The UK Health Security Agency reported 34 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in Enfield from January 1 to February 9.
The health bosses stressed that there is now a “big measles outbreak” in parts of London mainly affecting unvaccinated children under the age of 10.
More than 60 suspected cases of measles have been reported by seven schools and a nursery in Enfield, according to reports.
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can spread very easily among people who are not fully vaccinated.
While many people recover, the illness can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, long-term disability or death.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “Our latest data shows we are now seeing a big measles outbreak in north-east London, mostly affecting unvaccinated children under 10 in schools and nurseries, with some being hospitalised.
“Measles is a nasty illness for any child, but for some it can lead to long-term complications and tragically death, but is so easily preventable with two doses of the MMRV vaccine.”
Global health officials announced earlier this year the UK is no longer considered to have eliminated measles.
Figures published last August by the UKHSA showed just 64.3% of five-year-olds in Enfield had received both doses of the MMR vaccine in 2024/25 - one of the lowest rates in the country.
Enfield Council said it is “working closely” with the UK Health Security Agency, the NHS and local partners to respond to the outbreak of measles in the borough.
There is no treatment for measles, only the vaccination to prevent catching it, which is part of the measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) injection.
Two doses of a measles-containing vaccine provide high levels of protection and help prevent further outbreaks.
