MMR Vaccinations Brought Forward to Contain Measles Outbreak

The timing of Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations is being brought forward for Canterbury infants to give children greater protection from measles during the region’s current outbreak.

Rather than being vaccinated at 15 months and four years, children will be vaccinated at 12 months and 13 months.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ramon Pink said, “vaccinating children earlier is safe and provides much greater protection for them, when the risk of being infected with measles is higher.”

In a letter to Canterbury General Practitioners yesterday, Canterbury District Health Board’s Community and Public Health division asked that all children over 12 months, who have not received their full vaccinations, be recalled to have them. According to Dr Pink, it is never too late for children to be vaccinated but the sooner it is done the faster they will be immune to Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

Unvaccinated adults born after 1969 are also among those recommended to visit their GP and get vaccinated. Adults born before 1969 are likely to have established immunity from exposure to the illness.

Measles is a serious disease that is highly infectious and can spread from person to person through the air by breathing, coughing and sneezing. It can cause a rash, high fever, runny nose and sore watery eyes. It can lead to pneumonia, ear infections and brain damage and can occasionally be fatal.

The most effective way of preventing measles is the MMR vaccination and the more people that are vaccinated the less it will spread in our community. More than 90 per cent of people are protected from measles once they have had the MMR vaccine.

The Ministry of Health has recommended that schools exclude children who have been in contact with known cases of measles. “Disease can spread quickly through schools,” Dr Pink said.

Twenty three schools and ten early childhood centres have experienced cases of measles in the last two months in Canterbury. Most cases to date have been in unvaccinated teenagers.

This year there has been an increased number of measles cases across New Zealand including several outbreaks. The largest of these outbreaks so far has been in Canterbury with nearly 100 confirmed cases, ten of whom have been hospitalised.

Anyone who thinks they or a family member has measles should stay at home and phone their General Practice or After Hours clinic for advice.

ENDS