Parents urged to vaccinate children against measles

THE Health Service Executive has strongly advised parents to ensure their children have two doses of MMR vaccine, as cases of measles begin to rise in Ireland and across Europe.

The MMR vaccine is the only protection available from measles, which can be a very serious and sometimes fatal illness.

Dr Margaret Fitzgerald, HSE director of public health, said: “We have seen a rapid increase in the numbers of measles cases recently, most of them centred in north Dublin city. Measles is a serious illness, and MMR vaccine is the only protection against it. In 2000, a serious outbreak in Dublin saw cases rise as high as 1,600, and claimed the lives of three young children. Measles spreads very easily, particularly in homes, creches, playgroups, camps, schools and universities,” Dr Fitzgerald added.