MEASLES

You may be aware through the press that measles cases are rising in the UK. Updated infection prevention control guidelines have been put into place. These actions are necessary to ensure we can protect our patients, some of whom are extremely vulnerable, our staff and visitors to the practice and to safely manage any identified cases of measles in our community.

• If you think you, or a family member, have been infected by measles, please do not come into the surgery.
• Please contact the practice in the first instance and give the reception team as much information as you can to give us the best chance of identifying whether you have measles. Our clinical team will triage your information.
• If the clinician requests that you visit the surgery you will be asked to wait in your car until a member of the team calls you into a separate room.
• Symptoms of measles are a rash and feeling unwell (which may include cold-like symptoms or small white spots in the mouth) Further information from the NHS can be found here: Measles – NHS (www.nhs.uk).
• The best protection against measles is immunisation.
• If you are unsure of your child’s measles vaccination status then please contact the practice for advice.

The number of people in England having the MMR vaccine has dropped since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that children who have not been vaccinated, or are only partially vaccinated, are unprotected. This increases the risk of measles outbreaks happening in nurseries or schools.

Even a small drop in the number of people having the MMR vaccination can lead to an increase in measles cases. As there is more international travel since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, there is a higher chance of measles being brought back from countries where it is common.

Having two doses of the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect you and your child from measles, mumps and rubella.