Members of Parliament from across the West Midlands recently attended a briefing to discuss the rising number of measles cases in the region.
Providing the update to MPs were Maria Caulfield MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, as well representatives from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that mostly affects children, but can occur at any age. Since the 1 October 2023 there has been a rapid rise in measles cases, over 70% of which have been recorded in the West Midlands.
Cases have particularly increased in areas where there is a low immunisation rate such as Birmingham, Sandwell and Coventry. Yet whilst Worcestershire has a higher rate of immunisation, more can be done to help prevent the spread.
Immunisation is the only defence against measles, and the Department of Health is encouraging all those who have not received their MMR vaccine to take the opportunity to do so and be protected from this disease. This can be done by contacting your local GP surgery.
