Measles cases are rising in the UK and health officials are urging parents to get children up-to-date on their MMR vaccines ahead of summer.
Officials say that vaccine rates in children dipped during Covid-19 lockdown. There were 49 cases of the highly infectious disease detected between January and April, compared to 54 cases in the whole of 2022, according to the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA).
The UKHSA wants parents of young children, teenagers and adults to check vaccines before travelling this summer to avoid spreading measles further. This can be done by checking children's vaccine record in their Red Book, reports the Mirror.
Measles should not be taken lightly as it can lead to other serious conditions including pneumonia and meningitis and be fatal in serious cases. According to the NHS, its symptoms include a high fever, sore red watery eyes and a blotchy, red-brown rash.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Measles spreads very easily and can lead to complications that require a stay in hospital and on rare occasions can cause lifelong disability or death, so it is very concerning to see cases starting to pick up this year.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic we saw a fall in uptake for the routine childhood vaccinations, including MMR which leaves us vulnerable to outbreaks, especially as people travel abroad for summer holidays to places where measles is more common.”
Measles is now circulating in many countries around the world and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Europe is likely to see a resurgence unless countries catch-up children who missed out.
Children are offered the first dose of the MMR vaccine which protects against measles, mumps and rubella when they turn one and the second dose at three years and four months.
NHS England director of vaccinations Steve Russell, said “The MMR vaccine has helped prevent the development of potentially life-threatening illness among millions, and it is clear that when uptake falls, infections rise, so I strongly urge parents to review the status of their child’s vaccinations so they can keep them and others protected from measles, mumps and rubella.”
Those who have missed vaccinations are being urged to schedule an appointment with their doctor. Anyone with symptoms is advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice, before visiting the surgery or A&E, to prevent the illness spreading further.
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