The UK’s public well being safety company on Friday issued a “nationwide name to motion” for extra measles vaccines to be given to youngsters on account of falling vaccination charges and fears that the virus can unfold.
Jenny Harries, director of the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA), warned that measles was spreading amongst unvaccinated communities.
Individuals had “forgotten what measles is like,” Harries informed BBC radio, including that in uncommon circumstances it might even trigger loss of life.
He mentioned the UK had beforehand reached “measles elimination standing” however now the variety of youngsters beginning faculty with each doses of the mixed measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is just 85 p.c.
In some areas of England’s central West Midlands area, the proportion vaccinated had fallen to 81 p.c, he mentioned.
Figures launched by the UKHSA confirmed there have been 198 laboratory-confirmed circumstances and 104 “possible” circumstances between October 23, 2023 and January 15 within the West Midlands.
Of these, 80 p.c have been discovered within the metropolis of Birmingham.
Requested which communities have been least prone to be vaccinated, Harries mentioned: “For the West Midlands, for these in Muslim communities, they won’t be concerned with receiving one of many MMR vaccines that we provide, which has a pork-based by-product. “. .
In keeping with the World Well being Group (WHO), about 83 p.c of the world’s youngsters obtained a dose of measles vaccine earlier than their first birthday by means of routine well being providers, the bottom quantity since 2008. .
There have been an estimated 128,000 measles deaths worldwide in 2021, the bulk amongst unvaccinated or unvaccinated youngsters below 5.
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