Council Issues Warning After Surge in Measles Cases
Urges parents to ensure that children have had their MMR jabs
London has lowest vaccination and highest case rates. Picture: Public Health England
May 30, 2023
Ealing Council are urging parents to get their children vaccinated after reports that London has seen a disturbing rise in measles cases. In a post on social media, the council warned parents to check their children’s vaccines schedule, especially if they have had the MMR vaccine which protects against measles as well as mumps and rubella.
Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed that between 1 January and 2 April this year, 49 cases of measles were confirmed in England, with about two-thirds of them being found in London. In comparison, only 54 cases were reported throughout the whole of 2022, raising concern that rates of measles are climbing in the capital.
After mass uptake of the MMR vaccine in the mid-2010s, measles was thought to have been eliminated in the UK with there not being a case of the disease being transmitted in 2016 and 2017. However, there was a spike in 2018 and the UK saw 880 confirmed cases in 2019.
The number dropped again during the pandemic with social distancing meaning that only two cases were recorded in 2021. Renewed rates of transmission of the virus since the end of lockdown have led to campaigns by local governments as well as the NHS to urge parents to immunise their kids.
In a Tweet, Ealing Council wrote, “Measles cases are rising in London. Make sure your child is protected with an MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination. Check your child’s red book and contact your GP to book an appointment for any missed vaccinations.”
The MMR jab is given to children in two doses, with the first at one year old and the second at three years and four months. According to the UKHSA, uptake of two MMR doses in children aged five years in England is 85%, which needs to be around 95% to avoid outbreaks and maintain herd immunity.
London has lower rates of childhood vaccination than other regions in England, which was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic as many children missed their vaccinations.
Measles can have a nasty affected on those who catch it, particularly children. Without protection, measles can spread easily and potentially cause serious illnesses including pneumonia, meningitis and hearing loss.
Rory Bennett - Local Democracy Reporter