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

The latest England vaccine coverage figures (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.

Protection against measles is provided in the combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR), offered to children at the age of one year, and three years four months but always remains available as a catch up vaccination.

The latest quarterly Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly uptake data can be found on the Public Health England (PHE) website, at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cover-of-vaccination-evaluated-rapidly-cover-programme-2016-to-2017-quarterly-data

England coverage of the first dose of MMR vaccine at five years continues to exceed the World Health Organization target of 95%.

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.

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, as well as widening access by commissioning a range of alternative providers to complement existing general practitioner activities and community health service delivered immunisations.

The UK is supporting Guinea to strengthen its routine health and immunisation systems, through the UK’s investment in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. In 2016 Gavi immunised over 2 million children with measles vaccine in Guinea, and will support Guinea to introduce measles into its routine vaccination programmes in the future.