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Coverage among five-year-olds for two doses of the jab ‑ which protects against measles, mumps and rubella ‑ stands at 85.5 percent. This is below theWorld Health Organisation’s target of 95 percent to “achieve and sustain measles elimination”.
The disease is highly contagious and can lead to ear infections, pneumonia and inflammation of the brain. On rare occasions, it can lead to long-term disability or death.
Since the vaccine was introduced in 1968, it is estimated that 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths have been prevented in Britain.
The UK Health Security Agency and the NHS are urging parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date with the MMR jab and all other childhood vaccinations as uptake fell in the pandemic.
Dr Nikki Kanani, medical director for primary care at NHS England, said: “These vaccines give children crucial protection against serious and potentially deadly illnesses and stop outbreaks in the community.”
Youngsters are offered two doses of MMR by their GP surgery ‑ the first when they turn one and the second at around three years and four months, before they start nursery or school.
Coverage of the first dose of the MMR vaccine in two-year-olds has also dropped below 90 percent.
Almost half of parents are unaware infection can lead to complications and only 38 percent know it can be deadly, a Department of Health survey shows.
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