Vaccinations important ahead of new school term, says Herefordshire public health
In 2024 there were 2,911 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England, which according to the the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012
Herefordshire Council's public health team is among those across the country calling on parents to check their children are all up to date with the likes of their MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccinations ahead of the new school term.
From 1 January to 28 July this year 674 measle cases were confirmed in England, 34 being in the West Midlands.
Of that total, the highest age group of cases was 1-4 year-olds, with 14 being recorded across the region, the second being those less than one with seven.
Dr Padmanabhan Badrinath is the interim consultant in public health medicine across Herefordshire, he says making sure children are fully vaccinated from things such as measles is really important.
"Last year's data in Herefordshire shows nearly nine out of every 10 five-year-olds have had both the doses of MMR vaccination but ideally we need 95% protection," he said.
"It roughly equates to two children in every reception class in every primary school that still need it, so we're not talking of big numbers, but these numbers are certainly important.
"Fortunately in Herefordshire we have not had a case for the last 12 months, but we still need to do everything we can to improve the vaccination uptake as measles can be very dangerous."
In 2024 alone there were 2,911 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England, which according to the the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012.
During that period 562 were from the West Midlands, 364 of those coming from Birmingham.
Dr Badrinath says during the summer holidays can be the best time for parents to check their child is all caught up with the vaccinations they need.
He said: "Children will be going back to school, students will go back to university, so when we have people coming together, if they are not vaccinated, then the risk of contracting the disease, the risk of spreading the disease is quite high.
"It (vaccination) not only protects the child and the individuals having the vaccine, but everybody around them, this is what we call as herd immunity.
"Vaccination helps to prevent the disease for the children and it can save lives."
The latest UKHSA measles data update is due this Thursday (28 August).