Mass measles innoculation not for Warrington (From Warrington Guardian)

Mass measles innoculation not for Warrington

12:10pm Tuesday 9th December 2008

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A MASS measles innoculation programme that has begun in south Cheshire will not be reflected in Warrington.

The town has stuck with its usual vaccination system, encouraging parents to take their children to their GPs.

There have not been any confirmed measles cases in Warrington so far this year, and vaccination uptake is high, said Dr Marioth Manche at a board meeting of NHS Warrington on Wednesday.

But it is not high enough to provide complete 'herd immunity' - where large portions of the community are immune - and doctors are being asked to ensure parents know to vaccinate their children.

It is 10-year-old children who are at risk now, said Dr Manche, as many were not given MMR as toddlers because of a well-publicised suggested link between the vaccine and autism.

“Measles is now appearing in children aged 10 to 12,” said Dr Manche.

NHS Warrington is now embarking upon a long-term plan to ensure that the backlog is caught up with, but is trying to resist starting mass vaccination programmes in schools, he said.

Between 70 and 80 per cent of children in Warrington have been vaccinated with MMR, but for 'herd immunity' to apply there needs to be more than 95 per cent coverage.

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