North East health bosses have warned that so far this year there have been a sharp rise in measles cases - and said it's vital parents get their children fully vaccinated.
The plea - coming the week of the NHS's 75th birthday - sees bosses highlight how vaccinations can make a huge difference in protecting children from potentially deadly diseases. Between January 1 and April 20, there were 49 confirmed measles cases around the country, that's an astonishing rise compared to 54 cases across the entirety of 2022.
According to the NHS, there were no cases of measles in the North East between 2019 and 2022 - but this is no longer the case with a "small number of cases emerging". As a result, despite historically high rates of vaccine take-up, top doctors are concerned that some children may be slipping through the gaps.
