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As schools break up for the holidays, parents in Essex have been warned to ensure that their children's vaccinations are up to date following measles outbreaks in Europe.
Cases in the UK have also exploded this year, with figures showing that parents still do not take hundreds of young children for their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines. This means that the area is below the level of vaccination that the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) considers necessary to prevent measles outbreaks.
The most recent figures show that, during the 2016-2017 fiscal year, 90% of Essex children who were five years old had received the two recommended doses of MMR. This means that about 1,850 five-year-olds in the region had not been vaccinated.
The ECDC warns that areas in which less than 95% of the population is vaccinated are at increased risk of measles outbreaks.
But only four EU countries have achieved this goal, with the UK being among those who are not.
Across East of England, only 90% of children had received both JABs by the age of five in 2016-17.
In the United Kingdom, 757 cases of measles have been reported so far this year – almost triple the 274 cases reported throughout the entire year.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) also advised teens who missed their jabs in the late 1990s to make sure they are up to date before traveling. Many missed the course of the vaccination following discredited alarmist stories about the links between the vaccine and the development of autism.
Although local figures are not available, NHS figures show that in 2005-06, more than a quarter of five-year-olds in England did not receive both MMR jabs.
After major epidemics in France, Italy, Greece and Romania, Helen Donovan of the MRC said that the threat posed by measles should not be underestimated.
She said, "Measles is extremely contagious, especially where large crowds congregate, as in festivals or cities.
"Thanks to vaccination, it has become increasingly rare in the UK, but recent increases in infection rates show that we can not rest on our laurels."
Ms. Donovan also urged people to make sure their vaccines are up-to-date, by contacting their general practitioner.
She added, "The MMR vaccine is free, getting vaccinated is quick and easy – an appointment with your nurse practitioner will only take a few minutes."
In the United Kingdom, babies usually receive the first MMR jab in the month of their first birthday, as part of their routine immunization schedule. The second is usually given after they're three years old.
Children up to the age of 18 who have missed their jabs are still eligible to receive them for free on the NHS, just like some vulnerable adults, including pregnant women.
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