Waterside Primary School

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UKHSA declare national incident MEASLES: From Autumn 2023 to summer 2024, England experienced the biggest outbreak of measles since 2012, particularly affecting children under the age of 10 years. Since the peak last year cases have declined, but local outbreaks have continued and we are currently experiencing an increase in activity particularly in London and the North West Regions. There is also an increase in measles abroad. We are calling on all parents and guardians to make sure their children are up to date with their 2 MMR doses. To see if your child is up to date with their MMR vaccines, check your child's personal child health record (PCHR), known as the red book, or contact your GP practice. You may also be able to check their vaccination status on the NHS App. Getting vaccinated means you are also helping protect others who can't have the vaccine, including infants under one year and people with weakened immune systems, who are at greater risk of serious illness and complications from measles. They rely on the rest of us getting the vaccine to protect them. Having two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best way to protect your child and help prevent measles spreading, especially to those most vulnerable. Two doses of the MMR vaccine give you excellent lifelong protection. If you or your child have missed out, contact your GP surgery to catch up as soon as possible, especially if you are travelling to other areas in England or abroad. There is information available from the NHS on the MMR vaccine. There is information about measles on the NHS website. This includes advice for parents and carers to check if their child has measles, including photos of the measles rash. The rash looks brown or red on white skin. It may be harder to see on brown and black skin. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness, so anyone with symptoms is advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice, rather than visiting the surgery or A&E, to prevent the illness spreading further.