How is the Welsh Government working to increase the uptake of the MMR vaccine among children and young people?
As I have previously outlined, the best way to protect against the spread of measles is with two doses of MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccination programme in Wales is already highly effective and Public Health Wales’s most recent surveillance report (up to Dec 2023) shows 89.3% of 5-year-olds in Wales have had 2 doses of MMR.
Our ultimate ambition is to see the uptake figure amongst 5-year-olds reach the World Health Organisation target of 95%.
In response to a dramatic rise in outbreaks in England earlier this year the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) issued a Welsh Health Circular requiring health boards to ensure 90% of pupils in every school in Wales is fully vaccinated by 31 July 2024. This was accompanied by a letter to Directors of Education seeking their support with messaging the importance of vaccination and facilitating the catch-up activity in their schools. At the same time, the CMO did a public call-to-action asking parents to check vaccination status and come forward where children are not fully vaccinated. A full evaluation will be undertaken into the impact of this action and further actions to support uptake improvement will be identified.
Further communication and engagement with the public on the importance of the MMR vaccine has been undertaken in the light of the most recent outbreak in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. The NHS Executive’s Vaccination Programme has produced a national communications plan, bringing together all the work being done by health boards, PHW and the Welsh Government.