---

Measles: Vaccination

Protection against measles is provided in the combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR).

The latest England vaccine coverage figures for the United Kingdom (January to March 2017) show that uptake of one dose of MMR vaccine at two years was 91.7% and at five years was 95.4%, exceeding the World Health Organisation’s elimination target. Uptake of two MMR doses at five years was 88.1%.

In November 2016, a measles and rubella elimination strategy group was established to oversee the development of a United Kingdom-wide Measles and Rubella elimination strategy. This strategy will focus on sustaining very high coverage of MMR in children below five years of age and on providing opportunities for MMR catch-up to older population groups at risk for measles and/or rubella. Public Health England (PHE) continues to work with others to supply information for health professionals and the public on the benefits and risks associated with MMR.

PHE and NHS England work closely with providers at a local level to target specific communities where uptake of the MMR vaccine is known to be poor.