Portsmouth Council backs UK push to vaccinate children against measles before they go on holiday
This comes during a nationwide decline in vaccine uptake
Portsmouth Council is urging parents to get their children vaccinated against measles, echoing the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Measles has been on the rise nationwide since April of this year, but UKHSA says 99% of those who get the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine will be protected against measles and rubella.
Director of Public Health at Portsmouth City Council, Helen Atkinson, says it's always a good time to get your children vaccinated, but there's an urgency during summer as children go away on holiday and mix with other children.
Atkinson acknowledged that there is still hesitancy around vaccines: "When vaccination was introduced, people really quite quickly forgot the seriousness of those childhood infections.
"If you asked your grandparents, or people 50-60 years ago, they would tell you measles is a really nasty childhood infection."
Atkinson said vaccinations are even better than seatbelts for keeping children safe, and said that if everybody got vaccinated, measles could even be eradicated.
When should I get my children vaccinated?
Dr Vanessa Saliba, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, said: "The summer months offer parents an important opportunity to ensure their children's vaccinations are up to date, giving them the best possible protection when the new school term begins. It is never too late to catch up. Do not put it off and regret it later.
"Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences.
"Two doses of the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from measles. Babies under the age of 1 and some people who have weakened immune systems cannot have the vaccine and are at risk of more serious complications if they get measles. They rely on the rest of us getting the vaccine to protect them."