There are concerns about a 'significant drop' in the numbers of children getting vital vaccines in Liverpool.
The city council warned of a worrying lack of families getting the MMR jab and other childhood vaccines at the right time.
The MMR vaccine protects against three infections: measles, mumps and rubella, and a reduction in coverage leaves the city at risk of outbreaks.
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Children are offered two doses of the MMR vaccine by their GP practice, initially when they turn one and then at around the age of three years and four months, before they start nursery or school.
The NHS has continued to prioritise routine vaccinations throughout the pandemic, however the council is concerned some parents who haven’t had their child vaccinated against MMR may not have realised the NHS was still offering appointments, or they didn’t want to burden the NHS during the covid pandemic.
Coverage of the first dose of the MMR vaccine in two year olds in Liverpool is currently 85%, and 2 in 10 children in Liverpool under the age of five are not fully protected from measles and are at risk of catching it.
This is well below the 95% World Health Organisation target – something which is needed to achieve and sustain measles elimination.
Measles is highly contagious and can lead to complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain which require hospitalisation and on rare occasions can lead to long term disability or death.
Speaking about the current situation in the city, Dr Emer Coffey, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Liverpool City Council said: "Measles is extremely infectious, and can be dangerous. Although the vast majority of children are vaccinated against measles, we need to act fast to recover from the drop in coverage due to the pandemic to prevent outbreaks.
"If your child has not had the two doses of MMR vaccine they need, please contact your GP practice to book an appointment – as it’s never too late to catch up. The vaccine is safe and highly effective."
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