Children in the North East could be at risk from serious illnesses due to missing their routine vaccinations, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned.
The UKHSA North East has urged parents and guardians in the region to make sure their children are up to date with their jabs, including the polio and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisations. The warning comes after new data showed that the number of children up to the age of five getting vaccinated fell across almost all immunisation programmes in the UK in 2021-22.
In the North East, 94.5% of children had completed their first dose of the MMR vaccine by the time they were two years old, down from 95.3% the previous year, while coverage for the second dose by age five was at 91.7% compared to 92.5% in 2020-21. The World Health Organisation recommends vaccination levels should be at 95% to help prevent the spread of serious diseases such as measles and polio.
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It’s estimated that 20 million cases of measles and 4,500 deaths have been prevented since the measles vaccine was introduced in 1968. Measles is highly contagious and can lead to complications including ear infections, pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.
The UKHSA has warned that even a small decline in uptake of the MMR vaccine can lead to a rise in measles cases. Vaccination rates have fallen over the last few years, and disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to the decline - but with international travel back up and running, it’s more important than ever to get jabbed as measles is more likely to be brought in from other countries and cause outbreaks.
Dr Gayle Dolen, public health consultant at UKHSA North East, said: “Although the figures in the North East are higher than other areas of the country there is no room for complacency, and it is very important that we continue to encourage parents and guardians to take up the offer of vaccination to protect their child and others.
“Measles is highly contagious and can be dangerous, and it is concerning that we are seeing levels of uptake of the MMR vaccine falling among young children in the North East. I would urge parents to check that all children are up to date with their vaccines, and if not to get them booked in as soon as possible to make sure they have maximum protection.”
The UKSA advises anyone unsure whether their child is up to date with their vaccinations to check their Red Book (personal health record), and to contact their GP if they need further confirmation or to book an appointment. You can find out more about childhood vaccinations by visiting the NHS website .
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