Measles outbreak risk increased in Bradford due to MMR jab rate fall

Councillors have been told a fall in the number of children in Bradford receiving the MMR vaccine has put the city at an increased risk of a measles outbreak.

The Health and Social Care Committee heard that just under 90 per cent of children under the age of two in Bradford currently receive the jab, which is down from 94.6 per cent in 2013-14. Committee members were told that take-up rate of 95 per cent was needed for herd immunity.

Public health bosses are concerned that the lower take-up of the vaccine meant outbreaks of these diseases were more likely.

Councillors were told that a drop in the take-up of the vaccination is among several public health indicates meaning Bradford is “significantly worse” than where it needs to be.

Duncan Cooper, public health consultant, told the committee that measles was a particular risk in the city because it has a high R number, the rate at which the disease is transmitted in the community.

He said “We’ve heard we have to get the R level below one to reduce the spread of Covid. By comparison, the R level for measles is 14. That means if one person has it, they on average will pass it on to 14 other children.”

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