Vaccine urged amid measles outbreak

The HSE has urged parents to vaccinate their children after the number affected by a measles outbreak in West Cork rose to 51.

A further 20 cases were reported during the past fortnight, prompting health officials to call for more vaccinations as children prepare for school holidays.

“People around the country will be out and about and travelling around over the summer months increasing the risk of coming into contact with measles,” said Dr Kevin Kelleher, HSE assistant national director of health protection.

The outbreak is mainly confined to unvaccinated teenagers under 18.

Dr Kelleher confirmed yesterday that 51 children had been infected since the outbreak started early last month. Two of them had to receive hospital treatment.

“That shows just how infectious measles is, how serious an infection it can be, and the importance of vaccination to prevent unnecessary illness and the associated complications.”

Dr Kelleher said most of the children infected are teenagers and in 88% of cases they had never received any dose of MMR vaccine.

“This large and rapidly spreading outbreak is a major concern not only to people in West Cork but for the whole of Ireland,” Dr Kelleher said. He stressed that vaccination with MMR is the only way to protect against measles. “Failure to vaccinate leaves children exposed to a serious and potentially fatal disease.

“But, just as importantly, it exposes other children, especially the most vulnerable babies under one year, to this devastating disease.

“Children under one are those most likely to be liable to the severe complications and possibly death,” he said.

MMR vaccine is routinely provided at 12 months of age and again at 4-5 years. “So those aged less than 12 months will not have received the vaccine.

“Older children who did not get the MMR vaccine at these ages need to be vaccinated and their parents should contact their GP.

“Children younger than 13 years of age who missed out on MMR vaccine can still get it free of charge from their GP. Older children and teenagers can get the vaccine free, but may have to pay an administration fee,” he said.