Measles & Vaccination

You may have seen that measles has been in the news, following outbreaks in parts of the country. Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and spreads rapidly among people who are unvaccinated. It is an unpleasant illness and can sometimes cause very serious complications.

We urge parents and carers to ensure children are fully protected against measles by having the MMR or MMRV vaccine.

Measles spreads very easily, particularly among children who have not had the MMR or MMRV vaccine:

• Nine out of ten unvaccinated children can catch measles from an infected classmate
• One in five children who catch measles will require a hospital visit
• One in fifteen will experience serious complications, such as meningitis or sepsis

Children who are not fully vaccinated and who come into contact with measles may be excluded from school or nursery for up to 21 days under public health guidance, meaning they could miss school if they are not protected

Did you know? Parents not wishing their child to have the porcine gelatine-containing MMR/MMRV vaccine can request for an alternative option.