Early years leaders back MMR campaign
Joe Lepper
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Early years leaders are supporting a campaign to warn parents about the severe health risks of not vaccinating their children against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).
The campaign has been launched by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS after take up of the MMR vaccine among children fell to a ten year low, which risks a resurgence of these three diseases.
Coverage of two doses of the MMR vaccine among five-year-olds is 85.5 per cent, below the World Health Organisation’s target of 95 per cent to eliminate measles.
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The Early Years Alliance (EYA) has backed the campaign and is encouraging early years providers to highlight the risks of the diseases as well as signpost support and information.
"Early years providers offer a safe space for parents to discuss their child’s health and development, and so the campaign and resources will be extremely beneficial to early educators, enabling them to signpost families to clear and reliable information on the MMR vaccine,” said EYA quality and standards manager Melanie Pilcher.
"Catching measles, mumps or rubella can result in serious illness and complications, so it’s really important that parents ensure their children receive two doses of the jab, which offers the best long-term protection against the three viruses.”
According to a government and UKHSA survey of 2,000 parents of children under the age of five, there is a widespread lack of awareness of the dangers of the diseases.
Almost half are not aware that measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation and only four in ten are aware that measles can be fatal.
Pilcher added: “We know parents and carers are often unsure who to talk to about the MMR vaccine, so we would encourage early years providers to support the campaign and help ensure families get the information they need to feel confident about how to protect their children against these infectious diseases."
It's important that children get vaccinated to protect them against serious diseases including measles, polio & whooping cough 🧒
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) February 3, 2022
We asked @britsocimm experts from @RoyalVetCollege @cardiffuni @ucl @UofGlasgow & @QMUL to tell us about these jabs.
More: https://t.co/ZDLzCByS5M pic.twitter.com/KYqvhfvZxo
In 2013 poor take up of MMR led to measles cases reaching their highest level in a generation. This included more than 250 cases of the disease among children at 64 schools and nurseries across Swansea.
The government estimates the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968 has prevented 20m cases and 4,500 deaths.
“Measles is highly contagious and can be dangerous, and it is very concerning to see falling levels of uptake for the MMR vaccine,” said vaccines minister Maggie Throup.
“It is absolutely crucial we make sure our children are fully protected against measles, mumps and rubella with both doses of the jab.”