Cumbrian parents are being asked to check their children are fully up to date with their MMR vaccinations after a rise in measles cases.
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella and parents can check their child’s vaccine records via their Red Book.
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 one is given when the child is one and the second dose is given at around three years and four months, before a child starts school.
“Having both doses gives long-lasting protection against measles, mumps and rubella.”
Data recently published by the UK Health Security Agency has highlighted the rise in measles cases across the country.
While Cumbria is above the World Health Organisations 95 per cent coverage target for giving dose one, for dose two, the county is now below target.
The figures for both doses are also falling year on year, which the NHS Trust called concerning.
For 2022/2023 95.5 per cent of children were given the MMR first dose and 93.5 per cent were given the second. While for 2021/2022 97 per cent of children were given the first dose and 94 per cent 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.
She added: “We are about to send out letters to all children aged four 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.”
