South west London parents and carers are being urged to get their children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) to protect against potentially fatal consequences.
The call comes from south west London medical director Dr John Byrne after data published by NHS England for 2022/23 showed that MMR vaccination programmes nationally were not able to meet the uptake recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
WHO recommends that nationally at least 95% of children have jabs for diseases that can be stopped by vaccines to prevent outbreaks.
Dr Byrne said: “Vaccines are the most effective method parents and carers can protect children against disease. Most of children in south west London have been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, however a quarter still remain unprotected.
“Measles, mumps and rubella easily spread between unvaccinated people and can be very serious, and even deadly, so it is important that parents make sure their children are protected against MMR as we head towards the winter months.
“Millions of doses are delivered every year – it is safe for your child and will protect them, their friends and the wider community from these unpleasant but preventable diseases.
“So please check your child is up to date with their vaccines and contact your GP surgery about any missed doses as soon as possible. Parents or carers who are unsure, can check in their child’s red book or with their GP practice to see if they have had the two MMR doses.”
The percentage of children in 2022/23 who had received both doses of their MMR vaccine by their fifth birthday in south west London were:
- Kingston 76.4%
- Richmond 74.1%
- Croydon 70.3%
- Merton 71.7%
- Sutton 77.7%
Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.
Rubella is a rare illness that causes a spotty rash. It usually gets better in about a week, but it can be serious in pregnancy.
Mumps is a contagious viral infection. It is most recognisable by the painful swellings in the side of the face under the ears (the parotid glands), giving a person with mumps a distinctive ‘hamster face’ appearance. Other symptoms of mumps include headaches, joint pain, and a high temperature, which may develop a few days before the swelling of the parotid glands.