The Isle of Wight is above the national average for measles mumps, rubella inoculation (MMR), but the public health chief still believes we can do better.
Between July and September 2021, 90.7% of the Island’s 2-year-olds had had their first MMR dose. In the same time frame, 96.1% of children aged up to 5 had the first dose but only 91.9% had both.
In 2020/21, nationally, 86.6% of children had 2 MMR vaccines by their 5th birthday, compared to 88.6% of Island children.
Nationally, uptake of the MMR vaccination has dropped to its lowest level in a decade, with more than 1 in 10 under-5s now at risk. Both the Isle of Wight and the country are well below the World Health Organisation’s 95% target.
A campaign has been launched by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS this week asking parents and gardens to ensure children are up to date with the MMR vaccine.
The Island’s public health director Simon Bryant has said the MMR vaccine offers the best protection against the diseases. He has said:
“Measles, in particular, can be a serious disease in children and so I’m urging all parents and carers to check their child is up to date with all their jabs, and ensure their children take up these potentially lifesaving immunisations when they are offered.”
For advice, you can contact your GP surgery or health visitor.
UKHSA estimates since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968, 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths have been prevented in the UK.
