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| MMR vaccine uptake rise 'stalls' | MMR vaccine uptake rise 'stalls' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The rise in the uptake of the MMR jab has stalled at a level where a measles epidemic is still possible, NHS figures for England show. | The rise in the uptake of the MMR jab has stalled at a level where a measles epidemic is still possible, NHS figures for England show. |
| NHS Information Centre data revealed 85% of children in England had had the triple jab by aged two in 2007-8 - the same as the year before. | NHS Information Centre data revealed 85% of children in England had had the triple jab by aged two in 2007-8 - the same as the year before. |
| Uptake had been rising since plummeting to a low of 80% four years ago after the jab was wrongly linked to autism. | |
| To achieve herd immunity, 95% of children need to be vaccinated. | To achieve herd immunity, 95% of children need to be vaccinated. |
| Reaching this level of coverage means those who have not had the jab are also protected as immunity levels are so high that an infection cannot take hold within a community. | Reaching this level of coverage means those who have not had the jab are also protected as immunity levels are so high that an infection cannot take hold within a community. |
| But the vaccination rate has been well below the level required for that for several years after the Lancet medical journal published the controversial research in 1998. | But the vaccination rate has been well below the level required for that for several years after the Lancet medical journal published the controversial research in 1998. |
| The study has since been discredited, but confidence has been slow to return in the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. | The study has since been discredited, but confidence has been slow to return in the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. |
| MMR uptake is still not sufficient to remove the serious threat of measles outbreaks Professor David Salisbury, the government's director of immunisation | MMR uptake is still not sufficient to remove the serious threat of measles outbreaks Professor David Salisbury, the government's director of immunisation |
| Nonetheless, uptake had been rising since 2003-4 until the latest figures were published. | Nonetheless, uptake had been rising since 2003-4 until the latest figures were published. |
| It comes after there has been a rapid rise in measles in recent years with 1,000 cases recorded in 2007. | It comes after there has been a rapid rise in measles in recent years with 1,000 cases recorded in 2007. |
| Government officials have urged primary care trusts (PCTs), which administer the MMR programme, to try to increase vaccination rates. | Government officials have urged primary care trusts (PCTs), which administer the MMR programme, to try to increase vaccination rates. |
| They said without an improvement a measles epidemic would happen "at some point". | They said without an improvement a measles epidemic would happen "at some point". |
| However, just 24 out of the 152 PCTs recorded uptake rates of over 90% and none achieved the 95% mark. | However, just 24 out of the 152 PCTs recorded uptake rates of over 90% and none achieved the 95% mark. |
| Data | Data |
| London had the worst record with the overall average for the capital below the 80% mark - although not all PCTs had complete data. | London had the worst record with the overall average for the capital below the 80% mark - although not all PCTs had complete data. |
| By age five, 74% had had the second dose the figures also revealed - this is offered to mop up the one in 10 children who fail to develop immunity with the first dose. | By age five, 74% had had the second dose the figures also revealed - this is offered to mop up the one in 10 children who fail to develop immunity with the first dose. |
| But officials said the overall vaccination rate could be higher as some parents may be organising separate single vaccinations instead of the three-on-one. | But officials said the overall vaccination rate could be higher as some parents may be organising separate single vaccinations instead of the three-on-one. |
| Professor David Salisbury, the government's director of immunisation, said: "MMR uptake is still not sufficient to remove the serious threat of measles outbreaks. | Professor David Salisbury, the government's director of immunisation, said: "MMR uptake is still not sufficient to remove the serious threat of measles outbreaks. |
| "Parents who have not had their children vaccinated with the MMR vaccine should do so now. | "Parents who have not had their children vaccinated with the MMR vaccine should do so now. |
| "The evidence on MMR is absolutely clear - there is no link between the vaccine and autism and delaying immunisation puts children at risk." | "The evidence on MMR is absolutely clear - there is no link between the vaccine and autism and delaying immunisation puts children at risk." |