A top medic is calling on parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against measles amid an outbreak of cases in the UK.
Wales’ chief medical officer, Sir Frank Atherton, is urging people to take up the offer of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) or risk their children’s health.
Sir Frank warned it is vital that uptake of a full course (two doses) of the MMR vaccine is increased to 95 percent, the target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to protect Welsh communities from a potentially devastating outbreak.
It comes as reports that measles cases have skyrocketed in the UK in recent months.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there were 347 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England from October 2023. A total of 127 of these cases were confirmed in January 2024.
This is an alarming trend, especially given the fact that measles was declared eliminated in the UK in 2017 by the World Health Organisation.
Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools.
Children who contract the disease can become very unwell and, in some cases, measles can lead to hospitalisation and, in rare cases, death.
People in certain at-risk groups, including babies and young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immunity, are at increased risk of complications from measles.
In a government release, Sir Frank said: “We need to ensure that those at risk in our communities are protected against potentially life-threatening viral infections like measles and whooping cough.
“Measles can cause children to become very ill and some who contract it will suffer life changing complications.
“Parents can protect their children by checking they are fully vaccinated and where they are not, arranging for vaccination as soon as possible.
“Babies under the age of one cannot receive the vaccine. It is therefore essential that all those who are eligible, are fully vaccinated.
“This will help stop the spread of measles and will help protect our youngest children”.
The MMR vaccine is a safe and free way to protect children from the disease.
Through the NHS, the MMR vaccine is typically given to children at the age of one and again at three years and four months old.
You can still ask your GP surgery for the vaccine if your child has missed either of these two doses.
Wales’ deputy chief medical officer, Dr Chris Jones has written to all health boards asking them to take urgent action to ensure at least 90 percent of students in every school in Wales is fully vaccinated by the end of July.
“In the event of an outbreak, students and staff who are unvaccinated or under vaccinated could be asked to isolate for up to 21 days to stop the spread of this very virulent disease,” he said.
“We know how disruptive this can be to the education and wellbeing of our young people and we must do everything possible to avoid it. Public Health Wales, the NHS and the Welsh Government will be working closely on further plans to boost MMR uptake levels in the coming months.”
Symptoms of measles can include:
- A high temperature
- A runny or blocked nose
- Sneezing
- A cough
- Red, sore, watery eyes
- Spots in the mouth
- Red spots on the skin and a rash.
If you think your child has measles you should call 111 or book an urgent GP appointment.
