Extra clinics in Swansea for MMR demand on Measles

 

A GP surgery in Swansea has responded to the measles epidemic by laying on extra clinics because of high demand for the MMR vaccine.

More than 400 cases of measles have so far been reported in the area.

Public Health Wales, concerned about the low number of children having the jab, had urged parents to get them vaccinated during the Easter holidays.

Dr Dai Lloyd said his surgery had seen people queuing for the vaccine following the outbreak.

So far the epidemic has centered around the Swansea area, although there have also been cases in the Powys and Hywel Dda health board areas.

Powys health board said it is seeing numbers rise, with cases concentrated in the north of the county.

It said 41 people were reported to have measles in March, with almost 20 in the past week. 

Most of these have been in children of school age, where the disease can spread easily, it added.

Last week, Public Health Wales (PHW) said it was disappointed by the number of parents who were getting their children vaccinated.

It had urged parents to take advantage of the Easter holidays to ensure their children received the MMR jab.

It said only 100 of the 3,800 susceptible children aged over two in the Swansea area had the vaccine in the last week of March.

In Powys, one in four teenagers have not had the necessary two MMR jabs and are not fully protected against measles.

Life-long risk

Health officials have said the epidemic has been spreading at an "alarming rate" and that more than 50 people have been hospitalised so far.

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

Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and around 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication. 

These can include ear infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.

Dr Marion Lyons, director of health protection for PHW, said that children who have not been fully immunised face a life-long risk of catching measles.

She said one dose of MMR would protect 90% of children very quickly and two doses protects 99%.