Health chiefs have warned that mid-term travel could lead to measles infection reaching Ireland.
The measles outbreak is growing rapidly in Europe and the UK, with public health officials in Ireland concerned about falling vaccination rates.
There were over 42,000 reported cases of measles in the World Health Organization’s European region by the end of 2023 – a 2000% jump from 941 cases in 2022.
The uptake of the MMR vaccine has fallen in recent years in Ireland and is less than the 95% target set by the WHO. Vaccination rates in Ireland for the first dose of the MMR vaccine have fallen to 89.2% since the beginning of the pandemic.
In Donegal, the uptake is further below target at 81.2%.
“This means that many people can become infected with measles,” said Dr Anthony Breslin, Consultant in Public Health Medicine.
Dr Breslin said “Many families will be travelling during the mid-term break and at Easter too. Due to the increase in measles cases in the UK and Europe, unvaccinated children are susceptible to measles infection if they travel or if they meet with visitors to Ireland.”
The HSE is advising that children who are not fully protected against measles should get the MMR vaccine prior to the mid-term break.
Dr Breslin said: “Any person not vaccinated can become infected and is at risk of measles. Unvaccinated young children and pregnant persons are at highest risk of severe measles complications. Those at risk groups should contact your GP and can be vaccinated at any time if you have not been fully vaccinated before.”
To date, in 2024, no confirmed measles cases have been reported in Ireland.
A highly effective vaccine, MMR, can prevent measles in over 90% of immunised children, following a single dose of the vaccine. With the second dose of MMR vaccine, over 99% of immunised children are protected from measles infection.
The HSE childhood vaccination programme offers the first dose when your child is 12 months old, by your GP. The second dose is given to junior infants (5 to 6 years old) by GPs in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim.
“You or your child can be vaccinated at any time if you have not been fully vaccinated before. If you’re not sure of your vaccination history, having the vaccine again will not cause any harm,” Dr Breslin added.
Parents are encouraged to check that their children’s vaccines are up-to-date. If any child has missed this vaccine they should get it now from their GP. For more information visit the HSE Website https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/measles/
