ANYONE UNDER the age of 33 who has not had measles or who has not been vaccinated in two doses against the disease should be vaccinated, the Health Service Executive has warned.
As the number of cases of the disease reaches more than 20,000 this year across Europe, Dr Brenda Corcoran of the HSE national immunisation office said it was vital for any children or young adults travelling abroad, who had not had two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine or who had not had the disease, to ensure they get vaccinated.
It was particularly important if they were travelling to France, she said.
More than half the 20,000 cases across Europe since January have occurred there and there have been six deaths there since the start of the year. There has been one death in Germany.
“We are not changing the routine scheduling of vaccinations,” Dr Corcoran said. “The first dose should be received at 12 months and the second at the start of primary school, aged four to five. The first dose gives 90 per cent immunity, and the second dose 99 per cent immunity.”
She said if parents were travelling abroad with small babies aged over six months they could choose to have their baby’s first vaccine early.
She added that parents of children who were under four years of age and who had only got the first dose, could choose to get the second dose for their child as long as at least six months had elapsed since they had the first dose.
“We are also concerned about young adults – the backpacker set if you like – who might be travelling and not have had the full vaccinations. Really anyone born since 1978 should ensure they have had the two doses of the vaccine, or the disease.”
So far this year there have been 110 cases of measles in Ireland, of which 12 have been linked to foreign travel.
Dr Corcoran said Ireland had achieved 91 per cent rates of vaccination, but 95 per cent was necessary for full immunity in the population.
She stressed it was important to ensure vaccinations were up to date even if no travel was planned, as the disease was being brought back into the State, “and vaccination is the surest protection”.
The vaccine takes four weeks to be effective, and is free via GP clinics and the HSE national cold chain delivery service. Those seeking the vaccine at unscheduled points – ie other than at 12 months and at four years – may have to pay an administration charge.
Further information available at immunisation.ie;
