Health chiefs estimate that more than 3,000 people aged between 10 and 16 in Wolverhampton either haven't been immunised or completed their course of vaccinations - putting them at increased risk of catching the disease.
Last month, Public Health England, the NHS and the Department of Health unveiled an MMR vaccine 'catch-up' programme to make sure as many 10 to 16 year olds are vaccinated against the disease as possible, following measles outbreaks in South Wales and parts of England. Although there were no cases in Wolverhampton in the first 3 months of the year, there were 13 across the West Midlands.
Wolverhampton City Council is currently working with health partners and GPs to identify the number of young people in Wolverhampton aged 5 to 18 who need vaccinating.
Ros Jervis, Wolverhampton's Director for Public Health, said: "Public Health England estimate that just over 3,000 10 to 16 year olds in Wolverhampton haven't been immunised against this very unpleasant disease.
"Given the increasing number of cases of measles that there have been in other parts of the country this year, it's important that parents make sure their children are protected.
"Though the national campaign is targeting 10 to 16 year olds, we would urge parents to ensure that all children and young people are vaccinated - whatever their age.
"I'd therefore encourage parents to contact their GP to find out if they are due any vaccinations or boosters, and make an appointment for their children if necessary."
Experts believe the rise in measles cases can be mostly attributed to the proportion of unprotected 10 to 16 year olds who missed out on vaccination in the late 1990s and early 2000s when concern around the discredited link between the MMR vaccine and autism was widespread.
As a result, many children - particularly older children - are not protected against infection and, after many years of low vaccination uptake, measles became re-established in 2007.
Wolverhampton City Council and its partners including Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group and the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust are working with Public Health England to produce a locally-tailored plan to offer MMR to unvaccinated and partially vaccinated 10 to 16 year olds over the coming months, either through GPs or in community settings.
PHE West Midlands Centre Director Dr Sue Ibbotson said: "Measles is a potentially fatal but entirely preventable disease so it is very disappointing that cases have recently increased in parts of the West Midlands.
"The catch-up programme recommends an approach to specifically target those young people most at risk. Those who have not been vaccinated should urgently seek at least one dose of the MMR vaccination which will give them 95% protection against measles. A second dose is then needed to provide almost complete protection."
Public Health England has launched a Facebook page in conjunction with NHS Choices at Type=links;Linkid=1643;Title=Public Health England Facebook;Target=_blank;.
- released: Friday 17 May, 2013