Action needed to fight measles as 60,000 children remain unvaccinated by their second birthday

• 40,000 children had not received a single MMR vaccine dose by the age of five 
• This is an estimated increase of nearly 10,000 on numbers from 2019/20

Urgent action to combat the threat of measles was demanded last night amid warnings that over 50,000 children were unvaccinated by their second birthday last year.

Labour warned of a significant drop in MMR vaccination rates in England compared to pre-pandemic levels.

They cited figures that last year, an estimated 60,0000 children were unvaccinated against measles by their second birthday.

NHS advice is for all children to have received a dose of the MMR vaccine by the age of one.

The research also revealed that 40,000 children had not received a single MMR vaccine dose by the age of five – an estimated increase of nearly 10,000 on numbers from 2019/20.

Urgent action to combat the threat of measles was demanded last night amid warnings that over 50,000 children were unvaccinated by their second birthday last year (stock image)

NHS advice is for all children to have received a dose of the MMR vaccine by the age of one (stock image)

The analysis comes after measles cases have risen sharply in England, with 149 cases confirmed between January 1 and September 30 – compared with 54 in the whole of 2022.

Last night, Shadow Health Minister Karin Smyth said: ‘Worrying numbers of children are completely unprotected against measles, leaving many in danger of serious illness as cases rise.

‘Vaccines offer vital protection, but the Government has failed to maintain MMR vaccination rates, instead overseeing a sharp decline in children’s health services.’

She said Labour’s ambition was ‘to renew child health services to ensure as many children as possible receive protection against contagious diseases’.

In a statement last night, the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘We urge parents and carers to check that their children are up to date on their vaccines and if not they should book an appointment to catch up..

The spokesperson added: ‘It is vital that routine childhood vaccinations are up to date as this remains one of our best defences for public health.

‘The UK has a world-leading offer and we have run multiple catch-up campaigns following the Covid 19 pandemic to improve coverage – including a national catch-up campaign for MMR and London-specific campaigns for MMR and polio.’

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