Skip to main content

Thousands of MMR vaccines are stockpiled by the Government



Thousands of MMR vaccines have been stockpiled by the Government so anyone who has not had the jab can be immunised, it emerged last night.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs there was a 'national plan' in place in response to the epidemic in Swansea, where the number of measles cases has risen to 886.

He said: 'I want to reassure you we are taking this extremely seriously. In terms of making sure we have sufficient numbers of vaccines, ensure that we are talking in a targeted way to communities and to schools, that's absolutely going on.'



Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told MPs that thousands of MMR vaccines have been stockpiled by the Government so anyone who has not had the jab can be immunised

He told MPs on the Commons Health Select Committee yesterday that 'making sure we have sufficient numbers' of the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was 'absolutely going on', The Times reported.


Mr Hunt was asked about whether there would be a national MMR vaccination campaign by Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, a former GP, who said in parts of her Devon constituency 30 per cent of children had not had it.

Dr Wollaston said it was time for a 'national vaccination campaign' which would tell parents that by vaccinating their children 'you protect the whole community'.


Health officials are expected to announce shortly a 'catch-up' programme for people who have not been immunised.


The number of people infected with measles has shot up by more than 78 in just than five days, health officials have confirmed.


Last week the disease claimed its first victim - a 25-year-old father-of-one from Swansea.


Doctors warned this week that two million children are at risk of catching measles if the latest outbreak spreads.





More...
Man who died in South Wales measles epidemic 'was seen by an out-of-hours doctor the day before he died'
MMR boycott 'has left 2m children at risk of measles': Doctors say outbreak in Wales could spread to London

They said London, where nearly half of children have not had the jab, could be worst hit if cases of the disease spread from Wales.

Teenagers aged 13 to 15 are most at risk, as many were not vaccinated from the late 1990s, when a now-discredited scientific report was published linking the MMR jab with autism.

Labour MP Barbara Keeley, one of the MPs on the Commons Health Select Committee who questioned Mr Hunt yesterday, said MMR uptake was also low in parts of her Salford constituency.


Many children were not vaccinated from the late 1990s, when a now-discredited scientific report was published linking the MMR jab with autism

Mr Hunt told MPs: 'We certainly must not think of this as something that's [just] happening in Wales. I receive regular updates from the Chief Medical Officer. We have comprehensive plans in place.

'We need to use this as a moment to slay the myth about MMR. I do detect a turning point in terms of the public's attitudes towards this but there is still that critical 11 to 15 year old age group that may not have been vaccinated because they were toddlers at the time the MMR scare was so appallingly whipped up.'

MMR is administered in two doses - at around one year and again at age 4/5 before starting school. One dose provides 95 per cent protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

Levels of uptake are now high - 89 per cent in England and 93 per cent in Wales and rising. The World Health Organisation recommends 95 per cent of the population have it for full protection.

By 2004 first dose uptake had fallen to 80 per cent in England and 79 per cent in Wales meaning more than 100,000 children did not have it in that year alone.

Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash.

Complications are quite common, even in healthy people, and about 20 per cent of reported measles sufferers experience them, including ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'We currently have enough vaccine to protect everyone who needs it. If your child has not had two doses of MMR, whatever their age, contact your GP surgery and make an appointment.'

Jeremy Hunt also revealed to the committee that all 2,000 civil servants in the Department of Health would be expected to get regular 'frontline' experience in NHS hospitals - and that he had started already.

Mr Hunt is understood to have worked at the A&E department in Watford General Hospital last week, doing cleaning, portering and observing clinical work. He will undertake different roles at other hospital trusts.

He said: 'It's been great fun. I've learned a huge amount.' It was announced all policy staff including ministers would get experience of frontline NHS care following the report into the scandal at Stafford Hospital.

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o