The NHS in England has embarked on a campaign to ensure that more than 900,000 adults aged 19 to 25 receive their missed MMR vaccine.
The MMR vaccine provides robust and essential protection against measles, mumps, and rubella.
The initiative is part of an ongoing catch-up effort to bolster immunisation rates across the country.
This week, the campaign is focused on three regions – West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and London – identified as high-risk areas due to a significant portion of the population being behind on their MMR vaccinations.
Steve Russell, NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening, explained the importance of the MMR vaccine: “Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world and can cause serious harm to adults and children of all ages.
“But the NHS MMR vaccine gives life-long protection against becoming seriously unwell, so with cases of measles on the rise, it is not worth the risk of going without this vital protection.
“Measles, mumps and rubella are preventable, but catching them is easy when people are unvaccinated, so I urge people to come forward and get the MMR vaccine sooner rather than later.”
Health risks of measles
Measles, a highly infectious disease, has no specific medical treatment. However, administering two doses of the MMR vaccine provides robust and lifelong protection against the severe consequences of the illness.
According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), England has recorded 733 cases of measles between October 2023 and March 2024. Contracting measles poses significant health risks, including blindness, deafness, and encephalitis.
Pregnant women, in particular, face serious complications, such as premature birth and stillbirth.
Extending MMR vaccine campaign
Last week, the NHS sent reminders to 200,000 16-19-year-olds in the same targeted areas to encourage them to schedule their vaccinations.
The urgency behind these efforts stems from the highly contagious nature of measles, where just one infected individual can transmit the disease to approximately 15 unvaccinated individuals.
Phase one of the catch-up campaign initially targeted parents and carers of 6-11-year-olds, followed by an enhanced effort in London and the West Midlands aimed at 11–16-year-olds.
Now, the NHS is inviting over 900,000 adults aged 19 to 25 to receive their missed MMR vaccine.
Accessible vaccination opportunities
Unvaccinated individuals aged six to 25 can receive their MMR jabs through their GP surgeries. Additionally, various regions are hosting pop-up vaccination clinics in locations such as libraries, university campuses, and sports clubs to make the immunisation process more convenient and accessible.
Importance of timing and completing doses
While the first MMR dose is typically administered around a child’s first birthday and the second around three years and four months, individuals of any age can catch up on missed doses.
The vaccine, typically administered as a single injection, is a crucial part of one-year and preschool vaccinations.
The NHS catch-up campaign underscores the importance of MMR vaccination in safeguarding public health, particularly in high-risk areas.
With accessible vaccination options and advocacy efforts, the initiative aims to mitigate the spread of measles and its associated complications among the population.
