Parents urged to get children vaccinated as measles 'likely to spread'
Health leaders are warning of a 'very real risk' of seeing the virus spread in other towns and cities, after an outbreak in the West Midlands.
A senior health official has warned measles is likely to spread across more parts of the UK unless more people take up the vaccine.
The UK Health Security Agency’s Chief Executive has visited Birmingham today, where cases have spiked.
There have been 216 confirmed cases and 103 suspected cases in the West Midlands since 1 October 2023.
Around 80% of cases have been seen in Birmingham, with about 10% in Coventry, with the majority being in children aged under 10.
On a visit to the UKHSA laboratory at Heartlands Hospital, Dame Jenny Harries said the majority of people are not against their child receiving the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab, but that they need more information to feel confident about their decision.
She said: "We have learned a lot from Covid in that we need to make vaccines accessible to people but accessibility means different things, firstly making sure that they are physically available, but we also need to make sure people feel confident and have enough information to make a decision to step forward and have that vaccine.
"What we are seeing at the moment with measles is that people have forgotten what a serious illness it is, our vaccine programmes have been very successful and our coverage rates have dropped now, so we probably need to provide more information.
"We have had very high vaccination rates, especially for young families, but they are low at the moment."
During the visit, Dame Jenny also met with health professionals coordinating the response, including local UKHSA epidemiologists and consultants, NHS leaders and local councils across the West Midlands.
She added: “Colleagues across the West Midlands have worked tirelessly to try to control the outbreak, but with vaccine uptake in some communities so low, there is now a very real risk of seeing the virus spread in other towns and cities.
“Children who get measles can be very poorly and some will suffer life changing complications. The best way for parents to protect their children from measles is the MMR vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine give lifelong protection and it's never too late to catch up.
“Immediate action is needed to boost MMR uptake across communities where vaccine uptake is low. We need a long-term concerted effort to protect individuals and to prevent large measles outbreaks.”
What is the MMR vaccine?
MMR is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme – with one dose offered at one year and another second dose at 3 years 4 months.
Parents whose infants missed out, or anyone of any age who has not yet had a vaccine, are urged to come forward by the UKHSA.
Experts say the free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, as well as mumps and rubella.
What happens if you catch measles?
Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools.
It can be a very unpleasant illness and, in some children can be very serious, leading to hospitalisation and tragically even death in rare cases.
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, a blotchy red or brown rash, sore, red and watery eyes, coughing and sneezing.
Complications can include pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures.
Babies and young children, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system are more at risk.
Anyone who has mild symptoms is asked not to visit their GP or hospital but to call the NHS on 111. They should also stay away from nursery, school, or work while infectious.