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Following a rise in reported cases of measles across the UK, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared a national incident and launched a public campaign to increase childhood vaccination against the disease.
The statement notes a growing public health risk and the need to take immediate action to boost vaccine acceptance in communities where acceptance is low, in order to limit further spread.
In the United Kingdom, the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is part of the National Health Service (NHS) Routine Childhood Immunization Programme, offering one dose a year and a second dose at three years and four months.
More than 99% of those who receive two doses of the MMR vaccine will be protected against measles and rubella. The vaccine also protects against mumps and, although its level of protection is slightly lower, cases in vaccinated people are much less serious.
Parents whose babies have not received the vaccine, or anyone of any age who has not yet received a vaccine, are urged to speak to their GP.
Speaking about the rise in cases and the need for urgent action, Professor Beate Kampmann, Director of the Immunization of Pregnant Women and Babies Network (IMPRINT) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said: ” “Measles is not a harmless disease.” infectious disease: For every 1,000 children who contract measles, one or two may die.
“We have an effective vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), but measles can spread very easily among those who are not vaccinated. To keep cases low, 95% of the population needs to be vaccinated and, Unfortunately, current coverage falls far short of this goal.
“If you want to protect your child and your community, get vaccinated.”
Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush, Assistant Professor of Medical Anthropology at LSHTM, said: “Recent statistics published by the UKHSA reveal the consequences of declining vaccination coverage rates for children and adolescents.
“While a decrease in vaccine confidence or an increase in ‘hesitation’ has been linked, there are many other factors that need to be considered to ensure we develop appropriate interventions.
“The decline in coverage comes amid an unrelenting cost of living crisis, characterized by a generational decline in living standards, political austerity and an uneven recovery from the pandemic. There are clear links between deprivation and lower coverage vaccination because uncertainty affects many aspects of parents’ lives.
“To reverse the decline in vaccine uptake, immunization services require sufficient resources to effectively engage communities and ensure capacity. Typical vaccine delivery pathways, such as primary care through GPs, tend to be acceptable to most parents. However, communities living in urban areas or more deprived neighborhoods may not have easy access to these services and may require tailored involvement, such as the use of health visitors.
“The UK lost its World Health Organization measles elimination status in 2019. Five years on, the prospect of regaining this status seems broader than ever.
“The COVID-19 vaccination program was a lesson for the UK government in ‘putting money where your mouth is’ to strengthen vaccine coverage and tackle inequalities. Declining rates of immunization coverage for diseases such as measles should programs during the COVID-19 pandemic and with adequate resources.”