Call to ensure youngsters have MMR jabs
PARENTS in Halton have been urged to make sure their children’s vaccinations are up to date after a measles outbreak.
Public Health England (PHE) said there had been 28 cases across Cheshire and Merseyside in December.
There have been similar outbreaks around the country including in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.
A PHE spokesman said measles is highly infectious and can lead to serious complications.
He said children and young people who have not received two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are at risk.
Unvaccinated visitors travelling to Romania and Italy, where large outbreaks have been taking place, are particularly vulnerable.
Anyone planning to travel to Europe has been advised to check the National Travel Health Network And Centre website for advice.
The MMR vaccine is available to all adults and children who are not up to date with their two doses.
Anyone who is not sure if they are fully vaccinated should check with their GP practice.
Dr Mary Ramsay, PHE’s head of immunisation, said: “The measles outbreaks we are currently seeing in England are linked to ongoing large outbreaks in Europe.
“People who have recently travelled, or are planning to travel to Romania, Italy and Germany and have not had two doses of the MMR vaccine are particularly at risk.
“This serves as an important reminder for parents to take up the offer of MMR vaccination for their children at one year of age and as a pre-school booster at three years and four months of age.
“Children and young adults who missed out on their MMR vaccine in the past or are unsure if they had two doses should contact their GP practice to catch-up.
“We’d also encourage people to ensure they are up to date ● with their MMR vaccine before travelling to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks.
“The UK recently achieved World Health Organisation measles elimination status and so the overall risk of measles to the UK population is low, however due to ongoing measles outbreaks in Europe, we will continue to see cases in unimmunised individuals and limited onward spread can occur in communities with low MMR coverage and in age groups with very close mixing.”