Call For Parents To Give Children MMR Vaccine

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is marking European Immunisation Week by urging parents to ensure their child gets the best start in life by receiving all their childhood immunisations, particularly emphasising the importance of MMR.

Dr Lorraine Doherty, Assistant Director of Public Health, at the PHA, said: "Many childhood diseases which were common in Northern Ireland prior to the introduction of vaccination have been dramatically reduced or have disappeared altogether, such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus and several types of meningitis.

"However, it is important that we are not complacent. Once a disease 'disappears', it is easy to forget how serious it can be and unless children continue to be vaccinated against these deadly infections, there is a risk that they could start to spread again. Recent evidence of this includes the current extensive measles outbreak in Wales and in addition last year whooping cough figures reached the highest in 20 years in Northern Ireland. There is also the risk of diseases returning from other parts of the world where they are still prevalent, and if children haven’t been vaccinated, they will be vulnerable."

The outbreak of Measles in Wales has highlighted large pockets of teenagers and young adults who did not receive the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine when they were young children and are now at high risk.

Dr Richard Smithson, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA said: "In Northern Ireland MMR uptake rates have always remained steady so we don’t have the same large groups at risk. Our most recent figures show just over 95% of children have received one dose of MMR vaccine by the age of two and by five years of age, nearly 97% of children have had one dose of MMR and around 90% have had the recommended two doses. However, because measles is so highly infectious it is essential that every child has two doses of MMR vaccine. The situation in Wales reminds us of just how important this is. I would say to parents of children of all ages, if your child hasn't had both doses of MMR then contact your GP's surgery to arrange this."

(CD)