Cumbrian parents are being asked to check children are fully up to date with their MMR vaccinations after a rise in measles cases.

Parents can do this by looking at their vaccine records in their Red Book. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Data recently published by UK Health Security Agency shows there has been a rise in measles cases.

Kerry Foot, School Aged Immunisation Programme Lead for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Although our latest data for MMR uptake rates for Cumbria are on average high, we are seeing a slight drop in uptake year on year.

"You need two doses of the MMR vaccine for it to be effective.

"Dose 1 is given when the child is one and the 2nd dose is given at around 3 years and 4 months, before a child starts school.

"Having both doses gives long-lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

In Cumbria, we are above the World Health Organisation’s 95% coverage target for giving dose 1 but for dose 2 we are now below the target. More concerning is that the figures for both doses are falling year on year.”

For 2022/2023 95.5% of children were given the MMR first dose and 93.5% given the second.

For 2021 /2022 97% of children were given the first dose and 94% the second.

Kerry explained that the NHS in Cumbria is now reaching out to parents to check their child’s vaccine status and offering the opportunity to get the vaccine: “We are about to send out letters to all children aged 4 to 16 years old who are outstanding to one or more MMR vaccination. 

"We are urging parents to check their records and contact our team/and or their GP to arrange a clinic appointment.”

The contact details are: School Aged Immunisation Helpdesk

ncm-tr.immunisation-hub@nhs.net

Immunisation Hub 01900 705045

https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/services/school-based-immunisation-programme

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Deputy Director of Health Protection from UKHSA North West added: “We’re calling on parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their two MMR doses.

“Measles is a very infectious virus and can spread rapidly among communities if people have not been fully immunised. While most people who catch measles will recover completely within a couple of weeks, it's important to remember measles can be a very serious illness that can leave permanent disability, and occasionally even kill."