Measles and the MMR vaccine - Sirona care & health

Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it.

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Measles

Measles can spread very easily among people who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools.

In some children measles can be very serious and lead to hospitalisation – and in rare cases it can cause death.

Measles symptoms include a high fever and a blotchy red-brown rash, as well as a runny nose, cough or eye infection.

Anyone with symptoms is being advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice.

Vaccines are our best line of defence against diseases like measles and help stop outbreaks occurring in the community.

Parents and carers are asked to check their children are up to date with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. You can check your child’s personal health record, known as the red book, or contact your GP practice.

The MMR vaccine is free, safe, and effective, whatever your age. Two doses provide 99% protection against catching measles.

You can find more information on the MMR vaccine from the Healthier Together website.

Vaccine

Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provide 99% protection against catching measles.

MMR resources

MMR fact sheet in different languages:

Somali: MMR Key facts in English and Somali

Arabic: MMR Key facts in Arabic

Romanian: MMR key facts in Romanian

Polish: MMR key facts in Polish

You can find a Somali audio file of the fact sheet in the recording below:

Let’s Talk About MMR video created by the Bristol Somali community to raise awareness of the MMR vaccine.

In this video, Dr Colin Campbell, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, explains how infectious the measles virus is and gives more information on the vaccine.