MMR plea as North West tops measles table

More cases of measles were confirmed in the North West during the last three months of 2008 than anywhere else in England and Wales, figures published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal today.

In the country as a whole, 1348 cases were confirmed in 2008, up from 990 in 2007. In the North West, 180 cases were confirmed in 2008 compared to 31 in 2007, but 91 of the 2008 cases were recorded in the last three months of the year.

Dr. Rosemary McCann, HPA North West Regional Immunisation Leader, said: “These outbreaks can happen in any communities where there are large numbers of unvaccinated children and young adults.

"Confidence in the MMR vaccine is continuing to grow and increasing numbers of parents are having their children immunised at the appropriate time. However, we still have large numbers of older children and teenagers who missed out on immunisation as toddlers and these young people are needlessly vulnerable to infection.

“We need to keep reminding parents that if older children and teenagers have missed out on the MMR immunisation, it is not too late. Anyone up to the age of 18 is entitled to the MMR vaccination on the NHS and it can be arranged through the GP services.

“Measles, mumps and rubella should not be treated lightly. All can have nasty side effects and in rare cases, people die from measles. MMR is safe, proven and effective. Every child, teenager and young adult deserves to be given the protection it affords.”

Commenting on the national increase in measles, Dr Mary Ramsay, an immunisation expert at the Health Protection Agency’s Centre for Infections said: “The year-on-year increase of measles across England and Wales is very worrying. Last year saw the highest number of cases since the current method of monitoring the disease was introduced in 1995.

“What is so alarming is that the majority of these cases could have been prevented.

“There are still many children out there who were not vaccinated as toddlers over the past decade and remain unprotected. Unfortunately this means that measles, which is highly infectious, is spreading easily among these unvaccinated children.

“We are glad to see that public confidence in the MMR vaccine is now high with more than 8 out of 10 children receiving one dose of MMR by their second birthday. However, children who weren’t vaccinated many years ago are still at real risk. Measles should not be taken lightly as you can never tell who will go on to develop the more serious complications of pneumonia and encephalitis.

“This is why it’s incredibly important to remember that measles isn’t a ‘harmless’ childhood disease and that it is never too late to get your child immunised with the MMR vaccine. It is the most effective way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella.”