Renewed MMR plea to parents

The Health Protection Agency North West and NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale have renewed their plea to parents to vaccinate unprotected children with two doses of MMR vaccine because the measles risk in the community is continuing, with a case of measles reported in Middleton last week.

Dr. Rosemary McCann, HPA North West’s vaccination lead, said: “The risk from measles is ongoing in Greater Manchester and we also have mumps here and in many other parts of the region.

“The only certain protection from these potentially very serious infections is to have two doses of MMR vaccine. MMR uptake rates are increasing. The NHS has also been running successful catch-up clinics for the benefit of older children, teenagers and young adults who missed out on MMR vaccine at the optimum time.”

There remains a large pool of older children and teenagers who remain vulnerable to infection.

“Measles can spread like wildfire when it gets amongst unvaccinated children and teenagers who play, study and mix socially together. Our message to parents is that they should arrange through their family doctors for these unprotected young people to be vaccinated now. It’s not too late,” Dr. McCann said.

Dr. McCann added that parents can further help prevent the spread of infection by not taking children with symptoms to the GP surgery or hospital accident and emergency unit. If a child has suspected measles, the parents should phone the family doctor or call NHS Direct, the 24-hour health information and advice service.

The NHS Direct number is 0845-4647.