Dept of Health NHS info Health stats GLAD NHS Direct External sites will appear in a new window. Newsquest accepts no responsibility for their content. Health bosses say conditions are perfect for a London-wide breakout of the disease, with the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority area particularly at risk. Now MSW is taking part in a capital-wide audit to find out if inoculation levels are as low as they think. If they are too low, MSW will launch a local campaign to persuade parents to have their children inoculated.
Measles can be a killer and can also cause long term development problems and fits.
London is particularly at risk from an epidemic because it has a highly mobile population, who often do not live in an area long enough to get their children inoculated. Figures suggest the MSW health authority area has a slightly worse record than other parts of the capital, although no-one is sure why. Parents worried about the side effects of the jab want the measles injection to be given separately to the mumps and rubella jab. Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride is trying to force the Government to implement a single vaccine for measles by introducing a Private Members Bill. But Dr David Elliman, immunisation co-ordinator for MSW, said a single jab was less effective and would mean children having to have more injections.