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Call for all children to receive MMR vaccine after measles outbreak Call for all children to receive MMR vaccine after measles outbreak
(35 minutes later)
Public health authorities are calling on parents to ensure their children get the MMR vaccine after a measles outbreak in Leeds and Liverpool.Public health authorities are calling on parents to ensure their children get the MMR vaccine after a measles outbreak in Leeds and Liverpool.
Officials believe the virus was brought back from the European mainland, which they said had seen recent outbreaks, and was being spread among children in schools and nurseries. Officials said they believed the virus was brought back from mainland European, where there had been recent outbreaks, and was being spread among children in schools and nurseries.
“This serves as an important reminder 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,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, the head of immunisation at Public Health England.“This serves as an important reminder 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,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, the head of immunisation at Public Health England.
“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 in Liverpool and Leeds.”“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 in Liverpool and Leeds.”
She said the outbreaks were being managed by local health protection teams and all of the cases were in children and young adults who had not received the MMR vaccine.She said the outbreaks were being managed by local health protection teams and all of the cases were in children and young adults who had not received the MMR vaccine.
“Although the UK recently achieved WHO measles elimination status, due to ongoing measles outbreaks within Europe, we will continue to see imported measles cases in the UK in unimmunised individuals and limited onward spread can occur in communities with low MMR coverage and in age groups with very close mixing.“Although the UK recently achieved WHO measles elimination status, due to ongoing measles outbreaks within Europe, we will continue to see imported measles cases in the UK in unimmunised individuals and limited onward spread can occur in communities with low MMR coverage and in age groups with very close mixing.
“We’d also encourage anyone to ensure they have the MMR jab before travelling to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks, like Romania, Italy and Germany.”“We’d also encourage anyone to ensure they have the MMR jab before travelling to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks, like Romania, Italy and Germany.”
Public Health England believes the UK to have very high levels of innoculation. Last year, it estimated 95% of children got the first dose, which partially protects them, and 87% of that group went on to get the second dose, which fully immunises them. However, those figures include neither adults, nor children born this year. Public Health England said it believed the UK had high levels of innoculation. Last year, it estimated 95% of children got the first dose, which partially protects them, and 87% of that group went on to get the second dose, which provides full immunity. However, those figures include neither adults, nor children born this year.
Public Health England said measles is a highly infectious viral illness and advised anyone with symptoms to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111, rather than visiting the surgery or A&E. That was to prevent the illness spreading further, officials said. It said measles was a highly infectious virus and advised anyone with symptoms to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111, rather than visiting their surgery or A&E, to prevent the illness spreading further.
“Measles symptoms to be aware of include: high fever, sore, red, watery eyes, coughing, aching and feeling generally unwell, a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the initial symptoms.”“Measles symptoms to be aware of include: high fever, sore, red, watery eyes, coughing, aching and feeling generally unwell, a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the initial symptoms.”