MMR uptake 'highest in 12 years'

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The uptake of the MMR vaccine in Wales has reached its highest level in 12 years but health chiefs warn that the target rate has still not been reached.

The uptake of the first dose of MMR in children reached 92%, says the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS).

NPHS welcomed the increase but said the target of 95% needed to protect children had still not been met.

An outbreak of measles in Wales in May was the largest seen in the UK since the introduction of the MMR vaccine.

Almost 400 children across the country contracted measles to date and 42 required hospital treatment.

These figures are very encouraging and show that parents have responded to the news of a Wales-wide measles outbreak Richard Roberts, National Public Health Service for Wales

Some 83% of those children had not received either dose of the MMR vaccine, and 13.5% had received only one dose.

The NPHS is urging parents who have not yet vaccinated their children to take action.

Figures showed that the uptake of the second dose of MMR in children had risen to its highest rate at 86% but, again, the target is 95%.

Richard Roberts, head of the NPHS vaccine preventable disease programme, said: "These figures are very encouraging and show that parents have responded to the news of a Wales-wide measles outbreak by rethinking their decision not to vaccinate their children with MMR.

"However, the uptake is still not high enough to guarantee that outbreaks of measles, mumps and rubella will no longer happen in Wales, and parents need to remember that all these diseases can cause serious complications and even death.

Life-threatening illnesses

"We are therefore reminding any parent whose child has not yet received two doses of MMR and is overdue for these vaccinations that they should speak to their GP, practice nurse or health visitor urgently."

In the UK, children should receive their first dose of the vaccine at 13 months and the second at around three years and four months.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide 99% protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

Tony Jewell, the chief medical officer for Wales, said: "I welcome the increase in MMR vaccination rates.

"This vaccination is the simplest way of protecting people from these potentially life-threatening illnesses."