What do I need to know about the MMR Vaccine?

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, there has been a significant drop in the number of parents and carers getting their children vaccinated against MMR and taking up other childhood vaccines.

More than one in ten eligible children under the age of five in England haven’t had the MMR vaccine or are only partially vaccinated.

This leaves these children unprotected and increases the risk of measles outbreaks occurring in nurseries and schools. We are reminding parents and guardians to ensure their children are protected by taking up two doses of the MMR vaccine at the right time.

Why is it so important that we’re up to date with our MMR Vaccines?

Measles is highly contagious so even a small decline in MMR uptake can lead to a rise in cases. As international travel resumes, there is more chance for measles to be brought in from countries where it is common.

Catching-up children who missed out on their MMR vaccines during the pandemic is a priority, in order to help prevent a rise in measles cases.