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Swansea measles: Llanelli opens drop-in MMR jabs clinic Swansea measles: 2,500 receive MMR jab at drop-in clinics
(about 1 hour later)
Another health board is running a drop-in measles vaccination clinic in south Wales, amid warnings of a likely outbreak in north Wales. More than 2,500 people have received MMR vaccinations in a fourth weekend of special clinics to tackle the Swansea measles epidemic.
It comes as a million pupils in England who missed MMR jabs are targeted in a catch-up campaign to curb the threat. Health board officials welcomed the high turnout at sessions in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.
The drop-in clinic is operating in Llanelli, the centre of 65 cases since the beginning of the year. The figure includes 570 people who received jabs at the first clinic to be held in Llanelli, Camarthenshire.
Four hospitals in and around Swansea are hosting MMR drop-in vaccination clinics for a fourth weekend. More than 940 measles cases have been confirmed with 83 people needing hospital treatment.
The number of cases in the Swansea-based epidemic could pass 1,000 over the weekend if current trends continue. Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABM), which covers the Swansea area, plans more evening drop-in clinics during the coming week.
The outbreak is centred on the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board area - which covers Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, southern parts of Powys and eastern parts of Carmarthenshire. The number of cases in the epidemic which began last November could pass 1,000 over the weekend if current trends continue.
High rates of the disease have also been seen in Neath Port Talbot and north Powys. Dr Sara Hayes, ABM Director of Public Health, said they were really pleased to see so many people attending the clinics on Saturday.
Eighty-three of the 942 confirmed cases have needed hospital care since the outbreak began in November. "By having your MMR you are not only protecting yourself from a horrible virus, but others such as very young babies and people who are vulnerable because they are having treatment for conditions like cancer.
Further tests will be carried out on a 25-year-old Swansea man who died at his flat in the city while suffering from measles after post-mortem examination results were inconclusive. "We are particularly targeting children and teenagers aged between 10 and 18 years of age who probably missed having the MMR when they were little.
Special measures to tackle the disease are also in place in Llanelli on Saturday with a drop-in centre at the town's Elizabeth Williams Clinic. "We are going in to more secondary schools offering the MMR, but if you don't want to wait or miss the session in school we are running some evening drop-in clinics next week or you can go to your GP."
It follows a drive launched on Friday to vaccinate an estimated 4,000 schoolchildren across the three counties of neighbouring Hywel Dda Health Board area. Schools targeted
Health board director Teresa Owen said youngsters in all secondary schools in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire will be offered the MMR jab. The neighbouring Hywel Dda health board said around 570 people were vaccinated at the first drop-in clinic held in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
She said: "Due to Llanelli's close proximity to the outbreak centred in Swansea the programme will begin in the east of Carmarthenshire and is due to be completed across all three counties within four weeks." The board described it as "very successful" with the ages of the people who received the vaccination ranging from six months to 94 years old.
Two other health boards - Anuerin Bevan and Cardiff and Vale - have held drop-in MMR clinics on previous weekends. Sixty five cases have been confirmed in Llanelli since the start of the year.
Meanwhile, Public Health Wales has warned that it "was only a matter of time" before the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area in north Wales sees measles cases unless more children and young adults are vaccinated against the disease. All schools in the Hywel Dda region - which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire - will offer vaccinations to an estimated 4,000 schoolchildren over the next four weeks.
The health board has arranged vaccination sessions at all secondary schools in north Wales. Primary schools that have a vaccination rate of less than 90% are also being targeted. Two other health boards - Anuerin Bevan and Cardiff and Vale - held drop-in MMR clinics on previous weekends.
Andrew Jones, director of public health for north Wales, said: "I'm worried that 10% of our young people are at risk of catching this potentially fatal disease. Cases have also been identified in north Powys, and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board serving north Wales is beginning a programme of vaccination sessions in schools.
"Whilst I understand why people have historically had reservations about immunising their children we now have a very different situation. So far, only one suspected death has been linked to the measles outbreak.
"We are very vulnerable and if we wait until cases start to appear here it will be too late to prevent the spread across the north. Further tests are to be carried out on Gareth Colfer-Williams, 25, from Swansea, to establish the cause of death.
Epidemics He had measles but was known to have suffered other health problems including asthma.
"The vaccine is safe, the needles are tiny and the jab takes seconds; it is never too late to catch up on missed jabs.'' A post-mortem examination proved inconclusive.
Health officials have warned epidemics similar to the one in Swansea could occur anywhere. Meanwhile the Welsh Conservatives' health spokesman has called for a public inquiry.
A £20m catch-up campaign in England already has 1.2 million vaccines ready to go amid concerns that that a generation of children have low levels of protection against measles after the MMR scare more than a decade ago. Darren Millar told his party conference in Swansea: "Once this epidemic has subsided - as it eventually will - the Welsh Conservatives will press for a public inquiry into the outbreak to ensure that lessons can be learned."
In England, a £20m catch-up campaign already has 1.2 million vaccines ready to go amid concerns that that a generation of children have low levels of protection against measles after the MMR scare more than a decade ago.
The campaign aims to vaccinate children yet to be protected with the MMR - measles, mumps and rubella - jab by September.The campaign aims to vaccinate children yet to be protected with the MMR - measles, mumps and rubella - jab by September.
Run through GPs, schools and community groups, it will focus on children aged 10 to 16.Run through GPs, schools and community groups, it will focus on children aged 10 to 16.