Areas in England with best and worst measles vaccination rates revealed | Tech News
None of 149 local authorities in England assessed by the NHS last year achieved the 95% vaccination rate recommended to control measles – as cases of the disease continue to soar.
London fared worst, with boroughs from the capital as low as 56% for those under five with two doses. The East Riding of Yorkshire topped the table with 94.4%, followed by Durham and Cumbria.
The MMR jab, introduced in 1988, defends against measles, mumps and rubella – three serious, but preventable, childhood diseases.
Across England, the average figure is 90% for the first dose at two, and 86% for two doses at five.
The shocking figures underline the cause of a worrying trend, as vaccine hesitancy in the wake of the pandemic continues to hamper coverage, and children who missed their jab due to lockdown restrictions have still not caught up.
Last week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared the current outbreak a national incident, with figures suggesting more than 3.4 million children under 16 have not been vaccinated.
Of the 149 local authorities assessed, five of the top ten for coverage were in the north east, with only three southern regions – Bath and North East Somerset, West Berkshire and Wiltshire – on the list.
Hackney and the City of London recorded the lowest vaccination rates at 56.3%, followed by Camden with 63.6% and Enfield at 64.8%. Haringey, Islington and Kensington and Chelsea followed.
Of the 20 worst performers from those assessed, 17 were London boroughs.
In newly released guidelines on Measles, the UKHSA said: ‘The most effective way to control measles is by achieving high uptake of two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
‘High sustained coverage is key to achieving elimination of endemic measles, defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the absence of endemic measles circulation for at least 12 months in a country with a high-quality surveillance system.’
The UK was declared measles-free in 2016, but in recent years the disease has spread rapidly.
What is measles?
Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it.
The disease can lead to serious problems if it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain.
Problems that can be caused by measles include:
- Pneumonia
- Meningitis
- Blindness
- Seizures (fits)
These problems are rare, but some people are more at risk. This includes babies and people with weakened immune systems.
Source: NHS
What are the symptoms of measles in children?
The first symptoms of measles include:
- A high temperature
- A runny or blocked nose
- Sneezing
- A cough
- Red, sore, watery eyes
- Small white spots may appear around the inside of the mouth.
These can progress to small white spots spreading around the inside of the mouth, and a rash appearing on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.
What age should children have the measles vaccine?
Parents are advised to ensure their children are given first dose at one year, and a second dose at three years and five months.
However, any child – or adult – who has missed one or both doses of the vaccine can catch up at any time through their GP.
What are the symptoms of measles in adults?
The symptoms of measles in adults are the same as in children.
Measles should start to get better in about a week, but to ease the symptoms, you should drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease a high temperature.
What does a measles rash look like?
A measles rash usually breaks out three to five days after symptoms begin.
It usually first appears as flat, red spots on the face around the hairline, before spreading down the body.
Some small, raised bumps may appear on top of the flat red spots, and some may join together as the rash spreads.
At the point the rash appears, the patient’s fever may spike.
Can you get measles twice?
Once you’ve had measles, your body builds up resistance to it, meaning you should be immune and will be unlikely to get it again.
However, measles can lead to potentially life-threatening complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
What happens if you get measles while pregnant?
Catching measles while pregnant is very serious. It can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature birth, or could result in your baby having a low birth weight.
If you are pregnant and have been in contact with someone who has measles, you should get medical advice.
MORE : Measles is spreading like wildfire across the UK thanks to anti-vaxxers
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MORE : Warning to parents over ‘very real’ risk of measles outbreaks
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