MMR vaccine push as almost 3.5 million under 16s at risk of measles, mumps and rubella

Almost 3.5 million under 16s are at risk of catching measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), the Government has warned as parents were urged to book their children in for jabs.

Health minister Maria Caulfield said there has been a “gradual 10-year decline” in population coverage for the MMR vaccine, with factors cited including Covid disruption to the vaccination programme and the impact of discredited claims made in 1998 by Andrew Wakefield.

MPs heard and the West Midlands – while GPs are setting up extra clinics and vaccine buses are “targeting communities with low vaccination rates”.