Jump in Measles cases shows the importance of vaccination – Elly Baker AM

Londonwide Assembly Member Elly Baker AM has called for greater take-up of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine following figures showing that a total of 95 cases of measles have been identified in London since 1 October.

A third of the cases have been found in children under ten, comprising 33 of the 95 cases.

In the past 4 weeks, 14% of all new cases in the UK or England or England and Wales have been in London. Of the 183 new cases from the past month, 26 are from the capital.

Measles can cause serious problems such as pneumonia, meningitis, blindness or seizures. It spreads very easily but vaccination is the best way to prevent it.

NHS data, however, shows that in Redbridge, only 69.5% of children have received the second dose of the Measles Mumps and Rubella vaccine (MMR) by age 5, and 79.5% of children in Havering.

The NHS has a target vaccination rate of 95%, in line with World Health Organisation guidance. England has failed to hit this target for any of the previous 15 years, leading to under-vaccinated cohorts mixing with their peers in schools and increasing the likelihood of an outbreak.

Assembly Member Baker has campaigned for increased vaccination previously, having warned that, if these trends continue, herd immunity in the general population is under threat. As under-vaccinated cohorts of children begin to go to school, the risk of outbreaks increases substantially. To avoid seeing serious illnesses such as measles, polio and diphtheria in the community, she has urged families to check that their children are fully up to date with their vaccines. 

Falling vaccination rates were cited as a driver of polio being found in the water supply in East London in 2022, causing the NHS to deliver a vaccination drive to address the crisis. The presence of polio was cited by the UK Health Security Agency’s immunisation lead, warning that the country’s polio eradication status is at risk.

Elly Baker, a Londonwide Labour Assembly Member said:

“Measles is a scary disease that can cause serious problems, especially for children. I don’t want to see our area affected by easily preventable illnesses like these. Now that measles cases are on the rise, getting vaccinated is more important than ever.”

“Vaccines are safe and reliable ways to keep children safe from disease. I urge parents to check that their children are fully up to date with the immunisations available on the NHS. If you aren’t sure whether your child has missed any vaccinations or you have any concerns, speak to your GP.“