- The £20million campaign follows a big rise in cases in south Wales
- Many affected missed out on vaccination in late 1990s and early 2000s
- 587 confirmed measles cases in England in first three months of 2013
- That’s more than three times the 168 cases in
the same period of 2012
By
Jenny Hope
19:33 EST, 24 April 2013
|
01:47 EST, 25 April 2013
At least a million children and teenagers are to be vaccinated against measles in an attempt to stop expected outbreaks in England.
Some will never have had a jab, while others have only had the first of two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The £20million campaign follows a big rise in cases in south Wales, where public health officials have been running clinics to increase protection rates.
Vaccinations: Figures show there were 587 confirmed measles cases in England in the first three months of this year, more than three times the 168 cases in the same period of 2012
Many of those affected are teenagers
who missed out on vaccination in the late 1990s and early 2000s when
parents were concerned about a link between MMR and autism that has
since been discredited.
Figures from Public Health England
(PHE) show there were 587 confirmed measles cases in England in the
first three months of this year, more than three times the 168 cases in
the same period of 2012. The highest number of cases is among ten to
16-year-olds.
Experts predict England’s total this year will exceed the 1,920 cases confirmed in 2012 unless action is taken.
Professor David Salisbury, director of
immunisation at the Department of Health, said: ‘The situation in
Swansea, I believe, is a wake-up call for parents – for parents who for
whatever reason, quite a few years ago, chose not to vaccinate their
children and for whom these days vaccines aren’t really things that they
think about very much.’
He added: ‘You have to prevent measles
and that means we need to get ahead before we have got large numbers of
cases and large outbreaks occurring in England.’
Protection: The £20million campaign follows a big rise in cases in south Wales, where public health officials have been running clinics to increase protection rates (file picture)
He said the country faced a potential
national health emergency without a catch-up campaign that will be
carried out by GPs, schools and community programmes until September.
Around one third of a million ten to 16-year-olds who are not already vaccinated will be the ‘first priority’.
‘The situation in Swansea, I believe, is a wake-up call for parents’
Prof David Salisbury, Dept of Health
A further third of a million children
in this age group need at least one more MMR jab to give them full
protection, along with a similar number above and below this age range.
Dr Mary Ramsay, PHE head of
immunisation, said there was particular concern about potential measles
outbreaks in London, the South and East of England where MMR vaccination
rates were historically lower than in the North.
She said older children not vaccinated
as toddlers could ‘spread infection very effectively’, adding: ‘Measles
is not a mild illness. It is very unpleasant and can lead to serious
complications?…?with more than 100 children in England being
hospitalised so far this year.’
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if the gov. cared they would give single jabs, but you see, they dont
eileen.
,
hull, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:48
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Why on earth isnt it compulsory to prove your child has had ALL jabs BEFORE being allowed to start school?
molly
,
under hadrians wall, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:48
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If the whole of the civilized western world discredits one rogue “so called expert†, and a parent makes the decision to support that rogue,and put their children at serious risk,is complete ignorance.What of other parenting decisions are they getting wrong,certainly have no faith in their GP,and so many of them
snookhead
,
guildford, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:33
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Despite what the authorities say about the lack of risk attached to giving a young baby the MMR vaccine, there are still parents out there who are genuinely concerned about the perceived risks. If there is the slightest concern in any parent’s mind about anything that might pose a risk to their child of course they are going to take steps to avoid that risk if they can. The answer is obvious, forget cost or whatever it is that dictates we must use the MMR vaccine and give parents the option of a single measles vaccine for their child if they so wish. I think the difference in uptake would be astounding.
IanM
,
Perth, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:28
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It really should be the MMR vaccine that is given because mumps and rubella have potentially serious consequences when caught in adulthood. Mumps because of the dangers of impotency in men and rubella because of the dangers to unborn infants if mothers get the disease. I would never risk the health of my child because of the pronouncements of a discredited doctor. And those who think itssome sort of government conspiracy to recomment this drug should get a life and stop watching too many films. But hey,your child, your choice we live in a democracy and if you wish to take risks then you can.
bar
,
notts,
25/4/2013 09:24
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Fundamentally, this isn’t just about the alleged autism link, it is more about giving parents the chance to make an informed, individual choice. No one likes to feel bullied or pressured into a decision that is uncomfortable and clearly some parents don’t like the idea of being forced down the MMR route. People have genuine concerns about putting 3 live vaccines into a body all at once and whether a very young immune system can cope as a result. However, my issue is regarding ALLERGIES. The MMR vaccine is NOT recommended for those people who are sensitive to some of the ingredients in the MMR or who have a proven severe allergic reaction to any of those ingredients. Why isn’t a free, single safe alternative allowed in such cases? Anaphylaxis is scary, stressful and it is life threatening. I may be wrong but don’t believe that any parent who has a child with severe allergies to lactose, egg or fructose would opt willingly for the MMR, even if given under hospital supervision.
Fran
,
Wimborne, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:23
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I think they are also not saying that if you have had both MMR jabs you can still get measles…my friends daughter did she was told by a pediatrician it is possible in some children so it makes you wonder about how affective is the MMR and my older children who had it years ago are they protected…there is more to this outbreak than we are being told.
mummyof5
,
manchester,
25/4/2013 09:10
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What happened to NOT allowing children to start school without the jabs? I do not understand why all the fuss? Look at what has happened because of the non injected kids? A man died, that should be enough to make it law to have the kids protected or no school. We had to have the certificate in America, or our kid was not allowed to start school. But it should be done as protection, as any decent parent knows. I had all my shots when I was a kid because my mother cared enough to protect me.
yaknala
,
Torquay, United Kingdom,
25/4/2013 09:06
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I see the CTers are well out in force early today. The MMR vaccine is safe. H1N1 dumped in swiss lakes? Don’t be silly. Get your vaccinations, they save lives.
salerio
,
horsham,
25/4/2013 09:01
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How effective are vaccines? Anyone had smallpox, polio, malaria etc? I had my mmr, smallpox and polio shots as a child as did my child.
Bemused American
,
Northwest, United States,
25/4/2013 08:55
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