Macclesfield Express

Get measles jab for your children, parents urged

- BELINDA RYAN

PARENTS are being urged to get their children vaccinated for measles following a number of outbreaks across the country, including 29 cases in Cheshire and Merseyside.

Although there are no reported cases in Cheshire East, the council’s public health service is urging parents to ensure that children and young people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, if they have not already been immunised. The vaccine is available to all adults and children who are not up to date. Anyone who is not sure should check with their GP.

Dr Matt Tyrer, health protection lead at Cheshire East Council, said: “I would strongly recom- mend that anyone who has not yet had two doses of MMR makes an appointmen­t with their GP so that they can be fully protected against measles. I would also appeal to any parents whose children have not yet had the MMR vaccine to make arrangemen­ts with their GP to get them protected as soon as possible.

“Vaccinatio­n not only protects your child but also helps stop measles spreading more widely, including to children who are too young to have the vaccinatio­n or adults who may be vulnerable.

“MMR is a safe vaccine and is very effective at protecting against measles.”

Measles spreads from person to person very easily and can be a serious illness, which can lead to long-term problems for some people. Although it can lead to cold-like symptoms – such as a runny nose or sore throat – it can also cause a high fever with sore eyes and white spots inside the mouth.

A few days later it can cause a blotchy red/brown rash and, for some people, it can develop into serious, life-threatenin­g complicati­ons such as severe lung and brain infections.

Coun Liz Wardlaw, cabinet member for health, said: “With outbreaks of measles in other parts of Cheshire and Merseyside, we wish to send out the message to all families to make sure they are protected.

“Measles is an extremely serious, highly infectious viral infection with very unpleasant complicati­ons. It can spread through communitie­s, where people have not been vaccinated, very quickly and we are strongly recommendi­ng that residents who have not been vaccinated make sure that they do so and get their children protected.”

‘Measles is an extremely serious, highly infectious viral infection with very unpleasant complicati­ons’

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Debra Tracey and her ‘orange cycle mosaic’
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