Warning as 15 per cent of children in Greater Manchester unprotected against 'one of world's most contagious diseases'
A warning is being issued as just over 15 per cent of Greater Manchester children are unprotected against one of the world's most contagious diseases - as the region is hit with confirmed cases.
Latest figures show only 84.8 per cent of five-year-olds in Greater Manchester have had both doses of their MMR vaccine. That is well below the 95 per cent World Health Organization’s target needed to achieve and sustain measles elimination.Children are offered two doses of the MMR vaccine – the first when they are one-year-old and the second at three years and four-months-old.
However, the MMR vaccine is a safe and highly effective way to offer your child, and those around them, protection. Dr Helen Wall, clinical director for population health at NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, said: “It is worrying to see a decline in the number of children getting their vaccinations, with even small drops in the number of people coming forward for vaccination, it's possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.
Dr Wall is trying to reassure parents that vaccines will not harm their children, amid an uptick in vaccine hesitancy. "If you think your child has missed a vaccination, please contact your GP to catch up," she added.
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