THOUSANDS of children across Sussex are at risk of a potential measles or mumps outbreak because not enough people are vaccinated against the diseases.

Take up rates for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the county are falling short of the 95% recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Populations with this level of protection are more likely to avoid an epidemic.

The more people who are immunised, the less risk to those too young to be vaccinated or those who have weakened immune systems.

Latest figures published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre reveal 87% of children in Brighton and Hove have had both doses of the vaccine by the age of five, a slight drop on the year before.

The rate for East Sussex is 88.9% and West Sussex is the highest at 91.2%.

The average for England is 88.6%.

MMR take up rates plunged in the late 1990s because of the now discredited report published in The Lancet by Andrew Wakefield which suggested a link between the vaccine and autism.

Rates have been improving in recent years but there is still a way to go.

Brighton and Hove City Council public health consultant Katie Cumming said:

"Over the last four to five years vaccination rates for the MMR vaccine have been increasing which is good news as it means more children and adults in the city are protected against three diseases which are potentially serious – measles mumps and rubella.

“During the measles outbreak a couple of years ago many children across the country became seriously ill and some ended up in hospital.

"I would urge you to contact your GP if you are not sure whether your child is fully protected with two MMR vaccines by the age of five and your older child or teenager may not have received the full course of two vaccinations."

Sussex experienced a measles outbreak in 2012, with more than 330 babies, adults and children falling ill.

Most cases were in Brighton and Hove, where 195 people fell ill.