Parents urged to give kids MMR vaccine – as figures show thousands at risk of deadly measles
ONE in seven kids will start primary school next month without having had their MMR jabs. Health chiefs warn that 90,000 pupils will be at increased risk of measles, mumps and rubella. Youngsters should have two doses of the MMR vaccine before the age of five. But Public Health England figures show one in seven […]
ONE in seven kids will start primary school next month without having had their MMR jabs.
Health chiefs warn that 90,000 pupils will be at increased risk of measles, mumps and rubella.
Youngsters should have two doses of the MMR vaccine before the age of five.
But Public Health England figures show one in seven – and one in four in London – have not received both doses.
Boris Johnson blamed “superstitious mumbo jumbo” spread on the internet.
And the PM called on social media sites to take down scare stories.
What is measles?
WHO has said that measles cases have jumped up by 50 per cent in the last year.
It’s a highly infectious viral illness that can sometimes lead to very serious complications.
It can cause things like pneumonia and encephalitis – both of which can kill or leave people seriously disabled for the rest of their lives.
Now, experts are calling for measles vaccinations to be made mandatory in certain countries.
It’s given in two doses as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.
The first jab is given to kids at around 13 months old, while a second dose is administered at around three years, four months.
There is no link at all between having the MMR vaccine and autism – even in children who have other risk factors for the condition, scientists confirmed back in March.
That’s the conclusion of a nationwide study of all children born in Denmark to Danish-born mums between 1999 and 2010.
Last week, we revealed that anti-vaxxer parents were holding “measles parties” to give their kids the deadly virus.
He will order tech bosses to do more after Britain lost its measles-free status with the World Health Organisation.
The virus was eradicated three years ago but there were 231 cases in the first three months of this year.
It follows a fall in vaccination rates.
One factor is scare stories on Facebook and Twitter from Russian trolls and bots.
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Speaking yesterday at a Cornwall hospital, Mr Johnson said: “People have been listening to superstitious mumbo jumbo on the internet and thinking the MMR vaccine is a bad idea. That’s wrong. Please get your kids vaccinated.”
One in eight also still need a booster jab against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and polio.
PHE’s Dr Mary Ramsay said: “We’re concerned about children at greater risk of measles. It’s crucial they have maximum protection.”
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