A SHORT CLINICAL REVIEW OF VACCINATION AGAINST MEASLES

Tuesday, 23rd of September 2014

[source]Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine[|source]

Regardless of how individuals view vaccination, measles is one of the leading vaccine-preventable causes of morbidity and mortality among young children globally and is an important target for public health intervention. Recent, highly publicized outbreaks of measles in Europe have highlighted the need for all healthcare professionals working in primary and secondary care, and in public health, to be aware of this re-emerging infection.

In this report, authors review key clinical aspects of measles and place the current epidemiology of measles in the UK in the context of the turbulent history of measles vaccine. The review report documents that restoration of herd immunity will require higher public acceptance of the MMR vaccine in the context of recognition that measles remains an important infection. More details on the history of MCV vaccinations in UK and implications on measles disease epidemiology are accessible at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4012664/

 

ABSTRACT

Major epidemics of measles are again in the news across the UK because of our failure to maintain population herd immunity. This situation has occurred primarily because of a loss of public confidence in the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which was never restored following the Wakefield debacle, and a lack of awareness of the potential morbidity and mortality associated with measles. This article provides healthcare professionals with a succinct overview of important clinical aspects of measles and also describes the history of measles vaccination in the UK. Restoration of herd immunity will require higher public acceptance of the MMR vaccine in the context of recognition that measles remains an important infection. While achievement of this appears to be challenging, recent UK-based research suggests that it can be ascertained.