Shortfall in five-year-olds who have had MMR

Statistics published by the NHS Information Centre last week show astalling in the uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinethis year.

In 2007-08, 85 per cent of children in England at age two had receivedthe first dose, the same percentage as 2006-07. But by the age of five,only 74 per cent had received the second dose of the vaccine.

In London, only 49 per cent of under-fives received both their first andsecond doses.

Helen Bedford, senior lecturer in children's health at the UCL Instituteof Health, said, 'With MMR it's important to have two doses to ensurefull immunity, so that's the background to the rise in measlescases.

'The situation we are in at the moment is that there are a lot ofchildren who have either had nothing at all or only had one dose.'

She added, 'One of the important points to make to people in nurseriesis that they should make sure they are protected as well. There is noupper age limit for being immunised.'

The Government launched a campaign this summer to boost the uptake afterit estimated that three million children had missed their first orsecond doses (News, 14 August).

A spokesperson for the Health Protection Agency said, 'Public confidencein the MMR vaccine continues to remain high with at least eight out often children receiving one dose of MMR by their second birthday.

'However, we are still seeing continued outbreaks of measles,particularly in London.'

Uptake of the MMR immunisation fell to 80 per cent four years ago, aftera study, later discredited, linked it to a risk of autism in youngchildren.