NHS Ayrshire & Arran is reaching out to families of children with an incomplete MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccination record, to help increase protection in our communities.
In other areas of the UK, and elsewhere in Europe there has been an increase in the number of measles cases. In Scotland, there have been five laboratory confirmed cases detected in the last few months.
Measles is highly contagious and can be a very serious infection that can in some cases cause pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Measles can affect people of any age if they have not been vaccinated.
The free MMR vaccine protects against measles, with the first dose offered to children between 12-13 months and the second dose offered at three years four months. If it is missed at these times it can be given at any age. That is why our teams have been contacting parents and carers of children without a complete course of MMR vaccination, inviting them to arrange an appointment for their child.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Public Health Director Lynne McNiven said:
“We want to ensure that as many young people as possible are fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, which requires two doses to give full protection.
“If you receive a letter indicating your child has not had their MMR or has missed their second dose, please follow the instructions to make an appointment for them to come forward for vaccination.
“We are seeing measles outbreaks in other areas of the UK and elsewhere in Europe and our best tool in minimising the likelihood of measles impacting our communities here in Ayrshire is maintaining a high vaccination rate.”
If you have a child that is younger than three years four months old, please wait to be invited as normal to attend for routine vaccination. If your child is older than three years and four months and is yet to start school, you may receive a call direct from our child health team to discuss vaccination if your child has not yet completed their MMR doses.
For more information on measles as well as details on how to check your child or your own MMR status visit: https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/mmr-against-measles/
ENDS
BACKGROUND
The first symptoms of measles develop around 10 days after you’re infected. These can include:
- cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough
- sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
- watery eyes
- swollen eyes
- a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40°C (104°F)
- small greyish-white spots in the mouth
- aches and pains
- loss of appetite
- tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy
The measles rash appears around 2 to 4 days after the initial symptoms and normally fades after about a week. The rash:
- is made up of small red-brown, flat or slightly raised spots that may join together into larger blotchy patches
- usually first appears on the head or neck, before spreading outwards to the rest of the body
- is slightly itchy for some people