Doctors advise children to protected against measles for the new term

As children across Staffordshire and Cheshire settle back into school classrooms, parents are being urged to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against "easily preventable" diseases such as measles.

Since the start of the year a number of major measles outbreaks have hit parts our region and health officials are worried the new term will make things worse.

"We know that cases have been rising" said Cheshire GP Dr Fiona Lemmons, who also is one of the county's NHS medical directors.

"Of all the cases that have been identified across the country this year, we know that 89 of them were in the North West. That's the fifth highest in the country.

"Measles is really nasty even if you get a mild dose of it, it makes you feel really grotty and unwell. Every year we see more serious cases and every year sadly we see children die from measles, and it is entirely preventable by having the vaccine."

Since autumn 2023 outbreaks have happened in the West Midlands, North West and London with sporadic cases across the country – resulting in the highest number of cases in England since 2012.

This prompted the launch of wide ranging MMR catch-up activities targeting communities with low uptake led by NHS and other partners between August 23-April 24, for children who missed MMR vaccines.

Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, Regional Director of Commissioning at NHS England – North West, said:

“With cases of measles rising in the North West and nationally, it’s so important that young people have both doses of the MMR vaccine.

"Measles is very infectious, and spreads very quickly among communities if people are not up to date with their MMR vaccine. The vaccine is safe and two doses gives very effective and long lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

"Measles doesn’t just affect children, you can catch measles and become very unwell at any age. If you’re unsure if you have had one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, you can check on the NHS app, or contact your GP surgery."

Measles can start out with a runny nose and a cough, and so can be easy to miss until a rash forms.

Measles symptoms include:

• sore, red, watery eyes

• coughing

• aching and feeling generally unwell

• a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the initial symptoms.

If people develop any symptoms of measles, they should contact their GP surgery by phone. Please do not go to your GP, walk-in centre or any other healthcare setting without calling ahead, as measles is very infectious and so arrangements can be made to prevent others from being infected.

To take the vaccine out into communities, the North West has also been piloting MMR vaccines in community pharmacy for those who have been referred by their GP, and the Living Well Bus has been travelling around Cheshire and Merseyside offering walk-in appointments to those eligible for MMR and other routine childhood vaccinations, while school-aged immunisation service providers have been visiting primary and secondary schools offering first and second doses.

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