Measles Cases

Lord Allan of Hallam Excerpts

Monday 22nd January 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

From 1 January 2023 to 30 November 2023 there were 209 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in England. Over three-quarters of those cases are from the West Midlands, predominantly Birmingham and Coventry. In the West Midlands, an NHS integrated care board system partnership group has been establishing and co-ordinating a regional response. Extensive local communications and engagement have been undertaken in the West Midlands alongside the immediate response to support the uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Nationally, the UK Health Security Agency has established an incident management team to oversee the public health response to the outbreak. The noble Baroness is exactly right: this country had a proud record on vaccination prior to Covid-19 but there has been a decline in recent years since the pandemic, and we have to do more to get back our status.

[Lord Allan of Hallam (LD)]

My Lords, a large group of adults in this country have not been vaccinated against measles for a variety of reasons. Can the Minister confirm that any adult who believes that they have not had the MMR vaccine can receive it free of charge on demand from their GP? Is he confident that there is enough capacity in the system for the routine childhood immunisations, as well as for making sure that when adults do the right thing and protect themselves with vaccination they can receive one quickly?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

The noble Lord raises a very good point; about 25 years ago there were rumours and misinformation about the MMR vaccine, so there is a cohort of those in the younger generation—mid-20s or so—who should contact their GP today and ask for an appointment, which can be confirmed. I believe that there is capacity for all those who wish to have vaccinations at their GP surgeries.