Measles timebomb fears in Nottingham
NOTTINGHAM is sitting on a measles timebomb because not enough people are being vaccinated.
Up to one in three in some communities are at risk of catching the disease, which can cause brain damage, deafness, pneumonia and even death.
City vaccination rates have fallen behind similar cities like Leicester, Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Coventry.
Health chiefs believe fears over the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination, deprivation, lack of education and a reluctance to visit GPs are to blame.
Dr Greg Place, chairman of Notts Local Medical Committee, said: "When you get to these levels where one in three people are not immunised, it can lead to an outbreak in a community. Yet it is a disease which is cheap and easy to prevent."
Health chiefs are urging people to see their doctor and get the jab, which they say is safe.
Dr Vanessa MacGregor, consultant in communicable disease control for the Health Protection Agency, said: "The key message is there are a large number of children who are not immunised and we urge parents to get their children immunised as soon as possible. If the situation does not improve we could have an outbreak."
9 Comments
by Lynds, Nottm
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 9:33AM
“yes...i agree with the last two comments! My two boys were given the MMR like Stephens girls.
people just dont think things through sensibly!”
by Andyman, Derbys
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 2:19AM
“Totally agree Stephen, and when these children develop health problems because they have not been vaccinated, the parents should be made to pay for their treatment.”
by Stephen, Lincoln
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 9:43PM
“My two daughters were given the MMR whilst all the paranoid progressive thinking middle class parents were protecting their little darlings. Who's sorry now. These parents should be done for neglect, there was ample evidence at the time it was the sensible option.”
by Mr Mojo, Mapperley
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 2:05PM
“Bio-weapons ! !
Will these terrorists stop at nothing ?
Aren't the authorities trying to find this measles bomb ?”
by Dan, Bottesford
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 1:18PM
“Thanks to the controversy, the MMR is the most thoroughly tested vaccine ever and has been found to have fewer side effects than any other. The initial "science" that linked it to autism was flawed and corrupt and the use of single vaccines is medically unethical and parents rarely complete the course of treatment, leading to an under-vaccinated population.”
by Lynds, Nottm
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 1:06PM
“well i think so, but that is just my humble opinion!”
by John, Stapleford
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 12:56PM
“Why, the MMR is safe?”
by Lyndsey Done, Nottm
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 12:55PM
“No! give your child the MMR like the rest of the sensible people in this country- or pay for it.”
by susan, Notts
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 12:11PM
“So now can we have the SINGLE vaccine, please?”