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Parents urged to immunise against measles

27 November 2007

You're never too old to be immunised against measles

Dr Mary Ramsay, Health Protection Agency (HPA)

Key facts
  • Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. If a person has measles, 90 percent of non-immunised people in contact with that person will become infected.
  • The measles virus causes an estimated 30 million infections and 770,000 deaths a year worldwide.
  • MMR is the combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella. It was introduced into the UK in 1988.
  • The first MMR vaccination is usually given to children at around 13 months of age, with a second given before they start school.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is urging parents to have their children immunised against measles as the number of cases reaches the highest level in over a decade.

Latest figures show that, as of 31 October, 769 people in England and Wales have caught measles this year. This figure has already passed the total for the entire year in 2006.

Since the MMR vaccine was introduced in the UK in 1988, measles has been rare. However, the number of people getting measles is growing. It most commonly affects non-immunised children aged between one and four.

Measles is a highly contagious disease which can cause severe complications in some children. If the number of people not immunised continues to accumulate, there will be a measles epidemic.

Dr Mary Ramsay, a consultant epidemiologist with the HPA, told the Bupa health information team that there are many reasons why parents aren't taking their children to get the MMR vaccine. Reasons behind the low uptake include moving towns and losing touch with GP services or simply lack of time. Safety concerns over MMR are not such a factor since speculation that the MMR caused autism and Crohn's disease has been refuted.

Dr Ramsay is keen to remind parents that children need two full doses of the MMR vaccine for full protection. She also said, "You're never too old to be immunised against measles."

"This is also the case if your child has had only one of the two doses. Take them for the second injection, you haven't missed the boat," Dr Ramsay added.

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