Nurses have ‘critical’ role in preventing school measles surge

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reissued calls for parents to get their children the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is routinely offered to children aged five and under.

"School nurses are known, trusted and respected, as are nurses, hence [they] have a critical role to play in influencing positive change"

Sharon White

A fall in vaccine uptake in recent years was credited with outbreaks across Europe, with cases in England surging from late 2023, mostly in London, the North West and the West Midlands.

In response, the NHS launched a 'catch up' campaign to increase MMR coverage, targeting parents and young people, particularly those in areas that had the worst uptake.

This campaign, the UKHSA has now revealed, led to 180,000 additional doses being delivered, with more than 51,000 of these given to children aged five or under.

In total, 13% of the previously unvaccinated children aged five and under received their first MMR dose during the campaign period, between Augut 2023 and April 2024.

The UKHSA said there had been particular success among "deprived and ethnic communities", and noted a 4.9% increase in second dose uptake among Black, Black British, Caribbean and African children aged three years and seven months, and five years.

As of 19 August 2024 – the most recently-available data from the UKHSA – weekly reports of measles cases in England were the lowest they have been all year.

There had been 122 cases in the four weeks ending 19 August, and 2,387 since the start of 2024 – with most cases in children aged 1-10, and the majority of cases in London.

Despite the effort and current relatively low number of cases, UKHSA said vaccination uptake rates remained “too low”, and warned of outbreaks happening in September as school terms are due to begin.

As a result, the agency has once again issued public guidance calling for parents to get their children the MMR jab.

Sharon White, chief executive of the School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA), said school nurses would be “instrumental” in the effort to combat a back-to-school wave of measles, and other infectious diseases.

Sharon White

“Additional school/community sessions will be manned, flexible appointments, home visits and a range of other offers to ensure we achieve improved uptake,” she told Nursing Times.

“School nurses are known, trusted and respected, as are nurses, hence [they] have a critical role to play in influencing positive change.”

Across the next six weeks, UKHSA will be telling parents that if children are not vaccinated, they are not protected, as part of its campaign.

It is hoped that this will mean the country will not see another significant spike in cases in the autumn, like it did in 2023.

UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba said she was happy with progress made so far on improving MMR vaccine uptakes, but that there was still more work to do.

“As a mum and doctor it is especially tragic to see kids suffering when these diseases are so easily preventable,” she said.

“Two MMR jabs offer the best and safest protection against measles. If unvaccinated, children are at risk of serious illness or life-long complications. No parent wants this for their child.

“It is encouraging that parents, whose children have missed vaccines, are now coming forward, but we are a long way from ensuring all are protected and safe.

“And importantly vaccination is also about not spreading the disease to others who may be more vulnerable.”

Steve Russell, national director for vaccinations and screening at NHS England, added: “The NHS is clear that measles can be really dangerous and so it is critical that children get vaccinated.

“We are encouraging parents to come forward if their children are not fully protected and have been invited by their GP.”