Parents are being urged to make sure their children are up-to-date with their vaccinations as the NHS launches a new campaign.
The NHS wants to increase the uptake of MMR vaccines among children, which protects them against measles, mumps and rubella.
An NHS spokesman said nationally the uptake has been falling and while Cumbria’s uptake is ahead of the national figures, health bosses were keen to repeat the importance of the MMR vaccines for children.
Kerry Foot is the school Immunisation lead for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust.
She said: “The campaign by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) encourages parents with children aged 0 to 5 to attend their routine MMR vaccines in order to help give their child, and children around them, the best possible protection against measles, mumps and rubella.”
All children are invited for their first MMR vaccine when they are one and for their second dose when they are three years and four months old.
Kerry added: “In Cumbria uptake is good but the data is showing that uptake could be falling this year. Last year the uptake for the first MMR dose was 97.8 per cent and dose two is 95.3 per cent. The latest data published for 2021/2022 has so far remained the same for dose one with a 97 per cent uptake rate with our under-five population, with a slight drop in dose two with 93 per cent.”
Dr Raj Verma, consultant pediatrician and associate medical director for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust, said: “Even a slight decrease in these vaccinations is something we take very seriously. We know the diseases that these vaccines prevent have not gone away.
“These diseases pose a serious threat to children, if children remain unvaccinated then these deadly diseases have an opportunity to re-emerge. The MMR jab is a proven and safe vaccine to give your child. If you’re at all worried about the MMR jab I would encourage you to seek advice from your health visitor or GP.”
