Families in the East Midlands urged to prioritise vaccine catch-ups before children go back to school

East Midlands parents are being urged to use the summer holidays to get children up to date with routine vaccinations before the new school term begins.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is calling on families to make sure children are protected as latest data shows continued high levels of measles cases in some parts of the country, prompting fears of more outbreaks and a further surge in cases once children return to the classroom.

Regions with the lowest rates of vaccine uptake are of particular concern, including in the East Midlands, where the average uptake of two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine by age 5 is 85.7%, dropping as low as 71.4% in some parts of the region. This means many thousands of children are unprotected against these diseases, and the risk of outbreaks occurring while measles is circulating around the country remains high.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that 95% uptake is needed to stop outbreaks occurring and protect the population.

The most recent measles data shows there have been 674 laboratory confirmed cases reported in England since 1 January, with 145 notified between 3rd and 31st July 2025. Almost half of all cases (48%) have been seen in London (322/674), with 16% in the North West (111/674), and 10% in the East of England (65/674). While the East Midlands saw under 3% of cases (18/674) during this period, areas with very low MMR uptake are at increased risk of outbreaks.

As there has been a rise in measles cases globally, including Europe, over the last year, there are concerns that anyone unvaccinated going on holiday abroad could easily pick up measles and bring it back home, potentially leading to further outbreaks in areas with low MMR uptake.

This year measles outbreaks have been seen in several other European countries, including France, Italy, Spain and Germany, and WHO recently reported that Romania, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria currently have some of the largest numbers of measles cases worldwide.

Dr Vanessa MacGregor, Consultant in Health Protection leading on vaccine preventable diseases for UKHSA East Midlands, said: “Measles is a nasty virus which spreads very quickly in communities where many children and adults are unvaccinated with MMR, especially in nurseries and schools. It can lead to serious health problems including ear and chest infections, inflammation of the brain, with some children ending up in hospital and being left with permanent disabilities. Tragically, in rare cases, it can even be fatal.

“As children under the age of one cannot be vaccinated against measles, it’s important siblings are vaccinated to protect little ones and other vulnerable people – including those with weakened immune systems – who are unable to have the MMR vaccine and rely on the rest of us to protect them from measles.

“Before children start full-time school, they should have had two MMR vaccines, giving them the best protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

“Please take advantage of the summer break to check your children are up-to-date with all their vaccinations, including MMR. If parents are unsure about their child’s vaccination record, they can check their Red Book, the NHS app or contact their GP surgery. It takes around two weeks, following vaccination to ensure strong protection, so please book an appointment as soon as possible.”

Further information on when to have MMR and other childhood immunisations is available on the NHS website.