An NHS campaign will target adults across Greater Manchester to book an appointment for their missed measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, as the NHS catch-up campaign continues.
NHS campaign is targeting young adults in three areas – West Midlands, Greater Manchester and London – with these areas more at risk due to the number of people who are not up to date with their MMR vaccinations.
This follows on from 200,000 16-19 year olds in the same areas being sent NHS reminders last week to get their jab.
Measles is one of the world’s most infectious diseases with estimates showing that one infected adult or child can pass the disease onto around 15 other unvaccinated people.
There is currently no medical treatment for measles, however, two doses of the MMR vaccine can give someone effective lifelong protection against becoming seriously unwell with the disease.
In phase one of the NHS catch-up campaign, over a million parents and carers of 6-11 years-olds in England that are not up to date with their MMR vaccinations were sent emails, letters and texts inviting them to book a vaccine appointment for their children.
Thousands of invites have also been sent to parents and carers of children aged 11–16 years in London and the West Midlands. These two areas were selected for an enhanced catch-up programme due to an increase in cases combined with low MMR vaccine uptake rates.
Steve Russell, NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening, said: “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.”
Unvaccinated six to 25 years olds can get their MMR jabs via their GP surgery, while some areas are also running pop-up vaccination clinics in libraries, university campuses, sports clubs, and other convenient places.
