Are you and your children up to date with your MMR vaccines?
You may have read in the news that nationally there is an increase in measles cases.
Measles is highly infectious and parents and carers are asked to check that their children are up-to-date and have had two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, as well as mumps and rubella.
It’s important for parents to take up the offer of MMR vaccination for their children when offered at one year of age and as a pre-school booster at three years, four months of age. If children and young adults have missed these vaccinations in the past, it’s important to take up the vaccine now from GPs, particularly in light of the recent cases.
Check your child’s Red Book to see if they’ve received MMR vaccinations as scheduled or check with your GP surgery if you’re unsure. Most healthy adults will have developed some immunity to measles but can still receive two doses of the vaccine from their GP too.
Anyone with symptoms is also being advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice.
Measles symptoms to be aware of include:
- high fever
- sore, red, watery eyes
- coughing
- aching and feeling generally unwell
- blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the initial symptoms.
For more information about measles, see the nhs.uk website.
Other resources can be found belowL
- A video from Dr. Colin Campbell, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, explaining how infectious the measles virus is and providing information on the vaccine.
- A blog on immunisations in which Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA's Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunisations, explains the importance of protecting children through vaccination.
