Measles cases are on the rise in England and across Europe. Make sure you and your family are protected
against becoming seriously unwell with measles by checking you are up to date with the MMR vaccine.
Across England, on average one in ten children are not up to date with their MMR vaccinations, with some
areas of the country as low as two in five, putting thousands of children at risk of catching measles and the
disease spreading in unvaccinated communities.
Just two doses of the MMR vaccine gives you and your family lifelong protection against catching measles.
The first vaccine is given at age one year an the second at age 3 years and 4 months old. If you’ve missed
any doses it’s not too late to catch up. Contact your GP Practice today to book an appointment to get up to
date.
If you are unsure if you or your child are up to date, check your child’s red book or GP records and make an
appointment to catch up on any missed doses.
For more information on the NHS vaccination schedule, please visit MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Measles top FAQs
• What is measles? Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Having the MMR vaccine is the
best way to prevent it. Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in
their mouth. First symptoms, before the rash appears include –
• Cold-like symptoms
• a high temperature
• a runny or blocked nose
• sneezing
• a cough
• red, sore, watery eyes
• Can getting measles, mumps and rubella be serious? Measles, mumps and rubella are highly infectious illnesses that can easily spread between
unvaccinated people. These diseases can lead to serious problems such as meningitis and hearing loss. Most people are vaccinated against measles,
mumps and rubella and since the vaccine was introduced in 1988, these conditions have become rare in the UK as the vaccine is good at providing
protection.
• How can my child / how can I get measles? Measles is a virus that spreads through the air and is passed on by coughs and sneezes. Those who
have measles are infectious before they have any spots. The virus is highly infectious and one infected person with measles will infect 9 out of 10
unvaccinated people if they spend 15 minutes of more with them.
• Is measles just a childhood disease? Measles is more common in young children, but anyone unvaccinated is at risk of getting measles and
becoming seriously unwell.
• Is measles not just a rash that goes away? Measles can be serious and lead to long term health problems, such a blindness in rare cases. Most
people who get measles feel very unwell for up to two weeks. There is no medical treatment for measles. One in five will need a hospital visit and one
in 15 will have complications from getting measles.
