The childhood disease measles has returned to Brighton and Hove after a decade. The city’s director of public health, Tom Scanlon tells health reporter Siobhan Ryan why getting vaccinated is vital.

For Dr Tom Scanlon the message is simple: “We are not out to panic people but we have to bring the message home that measles is out there.

“It hasn’t disappeared and it’s coming back. People need to be protected against it and there is a vaccine available.

“If we don’t do anything, then there is a risk of a measles epidemic.”

Measles was once seen as a childhood rite of passage, which youngsters had to deal with but after the introduction of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) the number of cases fell and the illness was almost eradicated.

However, during the late 1990s, an article appeared in the medical journal The Lancet, which alleged a potential link between the vaccine and cases of autism.

The story escalated, causing thousands of parents across Britain to refuse to take the risk and have their child vaccinated.

It has been a decade since the research was published and the effects are still being felt.

Dr Scanlon said: “There is no doubt the report had an impact.

“In Brighton and Hove, the take-up of the vaccine dropped to as low as 60% at one stage.

“There has been a great deal of research into the vaccine – a lot more than many others – because of what happened.

“The result is that the vaccine is safe and is the most effective available.

“Things are finally starting to improve and take-up rates are gradually increasing but it will take years to build up confidence again and we would like to see the numbers rise more quickly.”

Even those who paid to have their child protected with a single vaccine may not be as safe as they think.

Dr Scanlon said: “We suggest that these children should be given the MMR vaccine as well because we cannot be certain of the effectiveness of the single vaccine since it comes in from abroad.”

The main concern among health bosses in the city is that although there have been isolated cases of measles, there are now signs of cases originating in Brighton and Hove.

The more the population is protected, the less chance there is of an epidemic.

The issue for Dr Scanlon is that because cases of measles are rarely seen nowadays, people have forgotten just how serious it is.

He said: “It is highly infectious and the complications that arise from it can be very serious.

“There can be ear, chest and neurological problems and, in extreme cases, death.

“These may be rare complications but they are easily avoided and that is why we are urging people to make sure their child is vaccinated.

“Because of the nature of the vaccine, it will not take with every child but the more people that have it, the greater the chance of keeping it out of the community.”

In Brighton and Hove, about 13,000 unvaccinated children are at risk of contracting measles and there have been nine cases of the illness so far this year.

About 6,000 under-19s have no protection at all, while a further 7,000 are only partially protected because they missed the second, essential dose of the MMR jab.

The World Health Organisation says 95% of a population should be vaccinated to protect against a measles epidemic.

But with an uptake rate of 78.4%, it is clear Brighton and Hove still has a long way to go.

Dr Scanlon added: “It is vital people take advantage of the MMR catch-up programme for children and young adults.”

For more details visit www.immunisation.nhs.uk.

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