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Wales measles: More MMR jabs at hospitals to fight disease Measles in Wales: Warning of epidemic spread
(about 2 hours later)
More hospitals are offering free MMR vaccinations across south Wales in a bid to tackle a measles epidemic. Fears have been raised that the measles epidemic could spread from Swansea as a health expert warned that no part of the UK is safe from the disease.
The number of cases has risen to 693, with health officials warning that too few children aged 10 to 17 are coming forward for MMR jabs. The number of cases in the outbreak has risen to 693, but Public Health Wales (PHW) believes that 40,000 children remain unvaccinated across Wales.
The epidemic, which is centred on Swansea, is not expected to peak for another four weeks. More hospitals are offering free MMR vaccinations across south Wales in a bid to tackle the epidemic.
Drop-in clinics will be held later for the first time in Cardiff and Newport as a precaution. One doctor said it was likely to spread to Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
It follows a decision by the Cardiff and Vale and Aneurin Bevan health boards to follow the example of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg which held sessions last weekend. Dr Tom Porter, a consultant with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said that while there was not yet an outbreak in the area, doctors were seeing cases being imported from elsewhere in Wales.
More than 1,700 were vaccinated at drop-in clinics in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend with another 900 vaccinated in the Swansea area last week. "It's probably a matter of sooner or later seeing significant spread within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan," he added.
But health officials believe thousands of children in the Swansea area have still not had the MMR (measles mumps rubella) vaccine. "We know at the moment not enough people are protected from measles which means probably we will get an outbreak and we want to make sure enough people are protected."
He added that an estimated 13,000 children under 19 have not had both recommended MMR jabs in the health board area.
Meanwhile Dr Meirion Evans of Public Health Wales said that the outbreak could last until the school summer holidays and that numbers could "easily double".
He said that the epidemic, which is centred around Swansea, is a result of a 10 to 15 year "legacy" of concern about the MMR (measles mumps rubella) jab.
It followed a since discredited report by Dr Andrew Wakefield in the late 1990s which linked the vaccine with autism.
Dr Evans, a consultant epidemiologist, said that as a result, there are many parts of the UK which do not have vaccination rates high enough to stop the spread of measles.
"Nowhere in Wales is safe from measles and I think that is true of the UK as a whole, " he added.
Drop-in clinics will be held later for the first time in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Newport and Ystrad Mynach near Caerphilly as a precaution.
More than 1,700 were vaccinated at hospital drop-in clinics in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend last Saturday, with another 900 vaccinated in the Swansea area last week.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board will hold more sessions from 10:00-16:00 BST on Saturday at Swansea's Morriston and Singleton hospitals along with Neath Port Talbot Hospital and the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board will hold more sessions from 10:00-16:00 BST on Saturday at Swansea's Morriston and Singleton hospitals along with Neath Port Talbot Hospital and the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
Some GP surgeries are also laying on special vaccination sessions during the week, while children will be given the jab at schools in the area when they return next week after the Easter break.Some GP surgeries are also laying on special vaccination sessions during the week, while children will be given the jab at schools in the area when they return next week after the Easter break.
Other health boards have also announced clinics for Saturday as a precaution.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is holding sessions at Cardiff Royal Infirmary and at University Hospital Llandough, also from 10:00-16:00 BST.Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is holding sessions at Cardiff Royal Infirmary and at University Hospital Llandough, also from 10:00-16:00 BST.
Aneurin Bevan Health Board is running sessions from 11:00-15:00 BST at Bellevue Surgery in Newport and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach.Aneurin Bevan Health Board is running sessions from 11:00-15:00 BST at Bellevue Surgery in Newport and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach.
No appointments are needed for any of the clinics which are for children and teenagers who have not had two MMR jabs.No appointments are needed for any of the clinics which are for children and teenagers who have not had two MMR jabs.
Dr Tom Porter, consultant in public health medicine for Cardiff and Vale, said the sessions were precautionary as there has not been an outbreak in the area.
Vaccination increase
He added: "We estimate around 13,000 children under 19 have not had two MMRs and are not adequately protected and would urge parents to take up this opportunity or to contact their GP to make an appointment locally.
"We are starting to see an increase in the number of people who have had the two jabs for MMR in Cardiff and the Vale, which is encouraging, but the number still falls far short of what is needed to stop the spread of what can be a very serious and potentially fatal disease, so it is important everyone is protected."
Cwm Taf Health Board in the south Wales valleys is not holding drop-in sessions but is advising people to contact their GP for a vaccination.Cwm Taf Health Board in the south Wales valleys is not holding drop-in sessions but is advising people to contact their GP for a vaccination.
Public Health Wales (PHW) has warned that despite previous immunisations the outbreak, which began in November, has not been brought under control. PHW has warned that despite previous immunisations the outbreak, which began in November, has not been brought under control.
Although the epidemic is based in Swansea, cases continue to be reported across Wales. Officials have raised concerns about the number of cases in Powys.Although the epidemic is based in Swansea, cases continue to be reported across Wales. Officials have raised concerns about the number of cases in Powys.
Measles is caused by a virus spread in droplets and is easy to catch by those who have not been vaccinated.Measles is caused by a virus spread in droplets and is easy to catch by those who have not been vaccinated.
Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash. Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication.Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash. Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication.
The death rate is around one in every 1,000 infected in developed countries.The death rate is around one in every 1,000 infected in developed countries.