A nationwide incident has been declared by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) due to an increase in measles cases throughout the nation.
Jenny Harries, the company’s chief executive, stated in a statement that “immediate action” is required to increase the MMR vaccine’s acceptance in regions where the vaccination rate is low.
“We need a long-term concerted effort to protect individuals and to prevent large measles outbreaks,” she said.
The measles is a highly transmissible illness. In mild cases, ear infections, a high temperature, and rash are the symptoms. However, the UKHSA stated that it can also be “a very unpleasant illness,” with rare instances resulting in hospitalisation and death. The most vulnerable groups are infants, young children, expectant mothers, and people with compromised immune systems.
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In the West Midlands since 1 October 2023, there have been 216 confirmed cases and 103 suspected cases as of January 18. Approximately 80% of cases—the majority involving children under the age of ten—have been reported in Birmingham, with 10% occurring in Coventry.
According to Harries, there is currently a “very real risk” of the virus spreading to neighbouring towns and cities because vaccination uptake in some places is so low.
According to the UKHSA, 84.5 per cent of children had received two doses of the MMR vaccine by the time they turned five in 2022–2023, marking the lowest level of vaccination uptake in almost a decade.
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