MMR vaccine levels in Northern Ireland have 'dipped'

The Public Health Agency and leading professionals are urging the public to come forward for their MMR vaccine as uptake levels in Northern Ireland have experienced a ‘dip’.

Recent figures from the Public Health Agency reveal that one in ten people in Northern Ireland are not protected against measles, mumps and rubella.

Rachel Spiers a Senior Immunisation Programme Manager from the Public Health Agency said, "We want uptake levels to be as high as possible and in Northern Ireland they have dipped.. the fewer people that are vaccinated, the more at risk the population is against measles”.

Despite coronavirus encouraging conversations around vaccines, it may have had a negative impact on the public's attitude towards vaccinations.

A Carryduff based doctor, Ursula Mason states that “in some areas and in some people you see a bit of vaccine fatigue, not another vaccine… but I think with regards to the potential for a measles outbreak and the potential for the significant impact that that will have, it is really important that we reiterate the importance to come forward for the MMR vaccine”.

The contagious illnesses can lead to serious problems such as hearing loss, meningitis and issues during pregnancy.

With the rise of measle cases in London, Ursula Mason says, “it’s an opportunity I think to reiterate the importance of vaccination and the impact that has on stopping quite a nasty disease if children and young people contract it”.

Across the country doctors are aiming to encourage as many people as possible to come forward for their MMR vaccine.

Ursula Mason speaks of the MMR vaccine threshold, “Below a threshold of about 90% we start to worry about pockets within communities that are at risk, and so within the GP practice and from the perspective of our colleagues in health visiting we would be trying to reach that threshold across all communities and in doing so we can be happier that our population is protected against measles.”

Administered in two doses, the MMR vaccine is given to babies and young children from the age of one.

Ursula Mason says, “If for whatever reason your child has missed a vaccine, please do contact your GP surgery and we can give you some advice of how to get that missed vaccine made up”.

Rachel Spiers reminds the public that “it’s never too late to come forward for your MMR vaccination either, I think particularly at this time of year people are travelling more over the summer…there are some other countries where you are maybe at higher risk of measles. Then obviously we will have folks going off to university and college in September so it’s important to make sure you are fully vaccinated”.

The public can check if they have received both doses of the MMR vaccine by contacting their GP.