Parents in Essex are being urged to check children's measles vaccination
It's after many children are reported to be missing their second jab, or both
Health services across Essex are raising awareness of the importance of vaccinating their children against measles.
Parents are being urged to check their children's vaccination, as many are reported to have only received one of the two MMR jabs, while others are yet to receive their first one.
Jane Halpin, Chief Executive at the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, said: "We're undertaking work to raise awareness of measles and why the MMR vaccine is so important, and given how long it has been since we have seen significant levels of measles circulating, this raising awareness is an important part of the work."
"We're working closely with local GPs and hospitals to make sure that arrangements are in place such that if someone does turn up with suspected measles, we have really robust infection control procedures in place."
"We are, through general practises, actually trying to identify children with either no MMR or incomplete MMR vaccination so that practises can proactively contact parents..."
Two weeks ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a fresh warning over measles after an almost 45-fold rise in cases across Europe.
Experts from the organisation had said Europe is seeing an "alarming rise" in the spread of the disease, which has "accelerated in recent months".
Since then, numbers have continued to rise, with infections spreading rapidly.
Health services have now resorted to actively searching for families were children may be missing a jab, to encourage their vaccination efforts.
Ms Halpin said: "We are, through general practises, actually trying to identify children with either no MMR or incomplete MMR vaccination so that practises can proactively contact parents, but clearly this takes quite a lot of work."
"We are also working with voluntary sector and faith groups to make sure that the messages we give out are appropriate to local communities..."
Although they are working to fill the vaccination gaps, health services are encouraging parents to check their children's vaccination book and contact the NHS if the MMR is missing.
NHS services are particularly keen to reach groups which may be vaccination sceptical to reassure parents and children.
"We are also working with voluntary sector and faith groups to make sure that the messages we give out are appropriate to local communities and we take the lessons that we learned through the COVID pandemic to proactively engage with some groups and communities", added Ms Halpin.