LOCAL MP URGES CHESHIRE PARENTS TO CATCH UP WITH CHILDREN’S MEASLES JAB

Edward Timpson, MP for Eddisbury, has urged parents to make sure their child is up to date with their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations—commonly known as MMR—amid an increase in the number of cases of measles in England.

Appointments for missed vaccinations can be made via your GP’s surgery.

Mr Timpson said:

“Measles cases are on the rise in England.

“You can still ask your GP practice for the MMR vaccine if your child has missed either of the two required doses.

“Likewise, any person of any age who has not received the full MMR vaccine should also contact their GP.

“If in any doubt—or for more information—please visit nhs.uk/MMR online, or call your GP’s surgery.

“Be safe, not sorry.”

Following a rapid rise in cases of measles in the West Midlands since October, the UK Health Security Agency has now declared a national incident, and has warned that measles outbreaks will spread to other towns and cities unless action is taken to increase vaccination uptake.

Professor Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said:

“Colleagues in the West Midlands have worked tirelessly to try to control the outbreak, but with vaccine uptake in some communities so low, there is now a very real risk of seeing the virus spread in other towns and cities.

“Children who get measles can become very poorly, and some will suffer life-changing complications. The best way for parents to protect their children from measles is the MMR vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine give lifelong protection, and it’s never too late to catch up.

“Immediate action is needed to boost MMR uptake across communities where vaccine uptake is low. We know from the pandemic that the communities themselves—and those providing services within them—will have the knowledge to support local families best to understand the risks of measles, to learn more about the vaccines that can protect them, and to enable innovative vaccine delivery approaches.

“We need a long-term concerted effort to protect individuals and to prevent large measles outbreaks.”

MMR is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme—with one dose offered at one year of age, and another, second dose at three years and four months of age. Parents whose infants missed out are urged to come forward now, as well as any person of any age who has not yet had a vaccine.

The free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella.

Measles spreads very quickly among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools. It can be a very unpleasant illness, and in some children, it can be severe, leading to hospitalisation and, tragically, even death in rare cases. People in certain at-risk groups—including babies and young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immunity—are at increased risk of complications from measles.

Over 99 per cent of those who receive two doses of the MMR vaccine will be protected against measles and rubella.

The vaccine also provides protection against mumps, which can be very painful, with complications including inflammation of the ovaries and testicles and, in rare cases, the pancreas. Although mumps protection is slightly lower, cases in vaccinated people are much less severe, highlighting the combined importance of the MMR vaccination.

Pictured - Edward Timpson, MP for Eddisbury.