Measles vaccination push in Moray
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STEPS are underway to encourage Moray parents to have older children vaccinated against measles.
NHS Grampian is writing to parents following an increase in cases in England and Wales and small outbreaks in some parts of Scotland.
A number of measles cases have been confirmed in Fife and Ayrshire, with the Grampian health authority now writing to unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children aged 10-17 with an invitation to attend for vaccination over the next few weeks.
Over recent years, the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) uptake has been good in infants in Grampian.
In 2012, 97% of children starting school had received at least one dose of MMR and 94% had completed the two dose course.
However, a spokesperson for the health authority said: “In the group of children aged between 10 and 17 years, uptake of MMR has been lower, largely due to parents having had concerns – subsequently confirmed as unfounded – about the safety of the MMR vaccine at the time their child was due to be immunised.
“Over the last two years, all unimmunised or partially immunised children in the S3 year in Grampian secondary schools have been offered an opportunity to catch up their missing MMR vaccinations.”
This month, all parents with children in that age group who are unimmunised, or partially immunised, will be contacted.
“The higher the uptake of MMR vaccination in children, the lower the risk of a measles outbreak developing in Grampian.
“It’s never too late to catch-up missing MMR vaccinations. If your child has missed an MMR vaccination, contact your general practice to arrange to catch up the missing doses,” the spokesperson said.
Measles is highly infectious and can be a dangerous illness, spreading easily in schools and other places where young people gather together.
Last November, pupils were sent home from Buckie High School after a case of measles was confirmed.
An incident management team was set up, with those who had been in close contact with the pupil identified and the risk assessed.
