New figures show South Tyneside hitting MMR jab target

South Tyneside is one of the only a few places in the country to hit the 95% coverage target for both MMR jabs, new figures.
A measles vaccination being administered. Picture by PA Wire/PA ImagesA measles vaccination being administered. Picture by PA Wire/PA Images
A measles vaccination being administered. Picture by PA Wire/PA Images

The latest figures for 2017-18 from Public Health England (PHE)show that 95.3% of five-year-olds had both doses of the MMR jab, slightly down from 96.2% the previous year.

The target, set by the World Health Organisation, is for at least 95% of five-year-olds to have had both jabs before their fifth birthday.

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Experts have said that the uptake of the jab across England, where 87.2% of five-year-olds have had both jabs, is “worryingly low”. In other parts of the country, immunisation rates are less than 70%.

The MMR jab is a three-in-one vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. It is given to young children in two doses – the first at 12 months, and the second around three years.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the British Society for Immunology (BSI) are concerned about children getting the first jab, but not the second.

Of the 1,730 five-year-olds living in South Tyneside, 1,705 had the first MMR jab, and 1,648 had both jabs.

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That means that in addition to those with no protection, 57 children missed out on the second dose of MMR and will only be partially protected.

One in 10 children will not be protected against measles after the first dose alone. After the second, that falls to one in a hundred.

BSI chief executive Dr Doug Brown said: “One in 10 people unprotected simply just isn’t good enough.”

This year there have already been 876 confirmed cases of measles in England, more than three times the number recorded in the whole of 2017.

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Although measles is now more common in teenagers and young adults, Dr Brown said that it’s more important than ever to make sure young children are fully protected.

He said that reduced uptake rates were “disappointing”.

“If we are in a position of increased outbreaks, low immunisation is even more worrying,” he said.

Dr Brown added: “Vaccination is one of the few miracles of modern medicine. It is one of the safest and most cost-effective methods we have to prevent the spread of disease.”

The Royal College’s immunisation expert Dr David Elliman said that a lack of awareness around the importance of getting both jabs, rather than a decision by the parents, could be causing children to miss the second dose.

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Dr Elliman said: “The best solution is GPs sending regular reminders to parents, and all GPs should make sure they have an efficient reminder system in place.”

He added that anyone who has missed the MMR vaccine can still get it for free at their GP.

“But even healthy children can get nasty measles and die from it,” he added. “A third of measles cases will end up in the hospital.”

Public Health England said that they are working closely with the NHS and general practice staff to improve uptake.

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PHE’s Dr Michael Edelstein said: “We are seeing small reductions in uptake for most of the childhood vaccines, which is why we continue to encourage all parents to get the best protection for their children by ensuring they are fully immunised.”

The British Society for Immunology is calling on the Government and the NHS to conduct a review of immunisation rates, to learn from the areas that are doing well and apply that to the rest of the country.