Measles: Calderdale public health boss's vaccine plea as measles protection figure dips to worrying level

There was an outbreak of the highly contagious and dangerous disease in part of the borough in June and July which highlighted just how vulnerable some parts of the community are, director of public health for Calderdale Council Deborah Harkins has warned.

“Some people were very ill and admitted to hospital,” she said.

"What it highlighted for us was how we have under-immunisation in young adults – those aged 16 to 30.”

She is concerned that people of that age group who have not had their MMR jabs are not only at risk of falling very ill themselves if they catch measles, they could also pass it on if they have very young children.

Babies can not receive their first dose of the measles vaccine until they are one, leaving them exposed for at least 12 months after birth.

Measles can cause severe disease, complications, and even death.

"It’s never too late to get your MMR vaccine,” said Ms Harkins.

“I am concerned about the levels of immunisation of some groups of people in the some parts of the borough

"And I’m worried about measles. The small outbreak we had highlighted to us this is something that can happen in Calderdale.”

The most recent figures show 88 per cent of Calderdale’s under fives had received both their doses of the MMR vaccine – a way off the ideal of at least 95 per cent.

And its not just measles where vaccination rates could be boosted.

Only 68 per cent of pregnant women had the whooping cough vaccine last year – a jab which passes protection against a potentially fatal disease onto unborn children for when they are born.

Pregnant women are also urged to take up the offer of a flu vaccine as well as the RSV vaccine, which also protects unborn children against a disease which can cause serious lung infections.

As the NHS prepares itself for increased winter pressure, flu jabs and Covid-19 vaccines are also being made available to some age groups and people who have, or live with people who have, compromised immunity.

"Immunisation has been taking place since the Victorian times and one of the biggest reason that we’ve seen the reduction and eradication of some of the most awful diseases is we have immunisations – it has saved millions and millions of lives,” said Ms Harkins.

Councillor Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for Public Health, backed her call for people to take up the vaccines they are offered.

He said people only have to look at graves of people who died before the Victorian times to see how many children were killed by diseases we can now safely vaccinate against.

“People have lost sight of just how serious these diseases can be if you are not immunised,” he said.

Anyone wanting to book a vaccination can contact their GP.

For a full list of the vaccines available and when people can have them, visit https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/