Measles public health advice
Experts at Public Health Scotland (PHS) are encouraging people to take up the offer of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Anyone who hasn’t had two doses of the free MMR vaccine, as well as parents and carers of children who have missed a dose, has been asked to visit the NHS Inform website to find out how to arrange an appointment.
The PHS awareness- raising drive comes off the back of two cases of laboratory-confirmed measles being announced since October 2023, one of which was confirmed on Thursday last week.
Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, head of vaccination and immunisation with
PHS, said: “As measles cases continue to increase across other parts of the UK and Europe, we’re working with health boards to ensure that as many people as possible are fully-vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.
“Two doses are needed to give full protection.”
PHS has said uptake of MMR has declined across all UK nations in recent years and there remains a risk of infection in those who are not vaccinated or not fully-vaccinated for their age.
A spokesperson explained that having two doses of the MMR vaccine is deemed to be the way to be fullyprotected against measles.
Measles can cause pneumonia and encephalitis – the latter of which is an inflammation of the brain – and can affect people of any age if they have not been vaccinated.
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, with the first dose offered to children between 12-13 months.
The second one is offered when a child is aged three years and four months.
If they are missed at these times, the vaccinations can be given at any age.
Further information on measles and how to check a child is fully-protected can be found on the NHS inform website.
See https://www.nhsinform.scot/