The government has launched a campaign to raise MMR vaccination rates in England amid growing concerns about a measles epidemic.
The Department of Health has asked primary care trusts (PCTs) to offer the jab to all children up to the age of 18 not already fully protected.
An epidemic of measles - which can be fatal - could potentially affect up to 100,000 young people in England alone. The danger of a major outbreak became reality after a study raised the possibility that MMR was linked to autism. Despite the fact that this has since been dismissed by the vast majority of research levels of public confidence in the jab have still not fully recovered.
The number of cases of measles in England is rising following a decade of relatively low vaccine uptake despite overwhelming evidence that the vaccine is safe. Professor David Salisbury, Department of Health, states, “The evidence on MMR is absolutely clear - there is no link between the vaccine and autism”
In 2006 and 2007 there were 1,726 confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales - more than the previous 10 years put together and it is estimated that around three million children aged 18 months to 18 years have missed either their first or second MMR vaccination.
Also, between 1992 and 2006 there were no deaths from acute measles in England. However there was one death in 2006 and another in 2008.
It is estimated that around 95% of the population need to be vaccinated to protect against widespread outbreaks of measles. The current vaccination rate across England and Wales is around 10 percentage points lower.
Professor Salisbury states, "Measles is serious and in some cases it can be fatal. If we continue to accumulate unvaccinated children....at some point there will be a measles epidemic."
Dr Patricia Hamilton, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health adds,
"Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that (MMR) is safe."
The Department of Health says around 10% of measles cases require hospital admission and one in 5,000 are fatal.
Wales has no plans for a similar catch-up campaign.
August 2008
| 
Babies Recognise Emotions At 4 Months
