As the holiday season approaches, parents are urged to make sure their children are up to date with their MMR vaccinations.
Measles is one of the most infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among those who are unvaccinated. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that measles outbreaks may occur this summer as families with unvaccinated children and adults travel to countries where there are outbreaks.
This year outbreaks have been seen in several other European countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany, and the World Health Organisation recently reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have among the largest numbers of measles cases worldwide.
From Autumn 2023 to Summer 2024, England experienced the biggest outbreak of measles since 2012, particularly affecting young children. Since the peak last year, cases have declined but local outbreaks continue.
It is important that anyone travelling for summer holidays or to visit family, especially parents of young children, check that all members of their family have received both their MMR vaccines.
Getting vaccinated means you are also helping protect others who can’t have the vaccine, including infants under 1 year and people with weakened immune systems, who are at greater risk of serious illness and complications from measles.
The first MMR vaccine is offered to infants when they turn 1 and the second dose to pre-school children when they are around 3 years and 4 months old.
Around 99% of those who have 2 doses will be protected against measles and rubella. Although mumps protection is slightly lower, cases in vaccinated people are much less severe.
Anyone, whatever age, who has not had 2 doses can contact their GP surgery to book an appointment. It is never too late to catch up.
It’s particularly important to check you’ve had both doses if you are:
- about to start college or university
- travelling overseas
- planning a pregnancy
- a frontline health or social care worker
- if you work with young children or care for people as part of your work
For more information on measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations visit: MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine – NHS