MINISTERS are poised to shorten the gap between children’s measles jabs to stop potentially deadly outbreaks.
At present, children receive a measles, mumps and rubella dose at 12 months old and a second at three years, four months.
GettyThere were 128 cases of measles in the UK between January and June — compared with 54 cases in 2022[/caption]
But under the plan, they will be allowed their second MMR vaccination at 18 months.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended the change last summer and it was expected to be implemented in 2025.
But with London facing the risk of a major measles outbreak, ministers are under pressure to bring it forward.
There were 128 cases of measles in the UK between January and June — compared with 54 cases in 2022 — and two thirds of them were in the capital.
The highly contagious disease is deadly but is easily preventable with vaccination.
Last week immunologists warned that without improvement in vaccination rates, London could face up to 160,000 cases and dozens of deaths.
The NHS has launched MMR catch-up programmes and the UK Health Security Agency has urged parents to check their children’s jabs are up to date.
London’s problem has been caused by low vaccination rates over several years and worsened by the pandemic.
The Department of Health and Social Care said: “We want to encourage parents of eligible children to come forward for the jab so their child has the best possible protection against measles, mumps and rubella.”