Parents should ensure their children are fully vaccinated against measles before the new school term starts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the UK’s health agency said, amid concerns that mixing of pupils in schools could lead to a surge in new cases.

According to According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 2,278 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles have been reported in the UK since the start of 2024, with London and the West Midlands the most affected. The majority of cases (62%) were in children aged 10 years or younger.

Measles spreads easily among those who are not vaccinated, and although it often begins with cold-like symptoms followed by a rash, measles can cause serious illness or even death.

The MMR vaccine protects against measles, as well as mumps and rubella, and the first dose is given at one year of age and the second dose at three years and four months of age as part of the vaccination programme. NHS routine childhood vaccination programme.

UKHSA is now stepping up its efforts promoting childhood vaccination reminding parents of the dangers to children if they do not receive protection against measles (as well as other diseases such as meningitis, polio, and whooping cough) through a series of advertisements on television, radio, social media, and billboards.

Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said measles can be a serious and sometimes fatal disease.

“Vaccines are our best form of protection and it is vital that children receive all of their vaccines,” she said. “As we approach the fall semester, I urge all parents to catch up on missed immunizations to keep children safe as they return to the classroom or childcare setting.”

Since last autumn, the UK has seen a rise in measles cases, with an outbreak initially occurring in the West Midlands and then in other areas, including London. This is the highest level of cases since 2012, according to the UKHSA.

In January, the UKHSA announced a national incident and warned that uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was at its lowest level in more than a decade, with population coverage for two doses below the 95% threshold that can prevent the spread of the disease.

Efforts to increase vaccine uptake include a national MMR vaccine recall campaign launched in November last year and scaled up in subsequent months.

According to a new UKHSA report, the initiative has paid off: between August 2023 and April 2024 there was a 4.9% increase in second dose uptake among Black, Black British, Caribbean or African American children aged three years, seven months and five years, while more than 13% of previously unvaccinated children aged five and under received their first dose of MMR during the campaign.

Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, said there were many reasons why it was important to prevent children from getting measles. “While it is a very unpleasant disease even without complications, it can also cause serious or permanent damage to children’s lungs, eyes and brains,” he said.

“Children who have had measles are also vulnerable to other serious infections for months or even years afterwards, as the virus destroys the immunity they have built up over time. Some children have died from measles. “This is entirely avoidable by ensuring they have received two doses of the safe and effective vaccine which is available free through the NHS.”

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, from the University of Oxford, agreed: “As a paediatrician, I am very concerned about the ongoing measles outbreak and the risk of the disease getting worse next autumn, when children return to school next week.”

“Unvaccinated children can become seriously ill or infect other vulnerable people, such as children with cancer. Measles is in our community, so make sure your children are up to date on their vaccines.”