Plymouth parents urged to ensure their children have MMR

Plymouth City Council's Public Health Team is calling on all parents to make sure their children have had the measles vaccination following the outbreak in Wales.

Kevin Elliston, acting Director for Public Health said: “While there have been no confirmed cases of measles in the city in the last 12 months, we must not be complacent. I’d urge all parents to make sure their children get both doses of the MMR vaccine, measles is very unpleasant and can lead to serious complications.

“If you think that your child may have measles, keep them away from other children for at least five days after the rash has appeared."

The MMR vaccine is offered in two doses, the first between 12 to 13 months old and the second before the child starts school. The second dose provides increased protection, with less than 1 per cent of children remaining at risk after having it.

Measles is very easily spread and the symptoms include:

* cold-like symptoms
* red eyes and sensitivity to light
* fever
* greyish white spots in the mouth and throat
* after a few days a red-brown spotty rash will appear

Vaccinated children, or anyone who has already had measles, are very unlikely to catch the disease.

Vaccination rates for children in Plymouth and Devon have risen steadily since the 1990s. 87.5 per cent of five year old children in Plymouth have had two recorded doses of the MMR vaccine, in line with the average for England.

96.8 per cent of five year olds in Plymouth have had at least one dose of the MMR vaccine, higher than the average for England. 93.3% of two year old children in Plymouth have had one dose of the MMR vaccine which is higher than the average for England.