Statistics published by the NHS Information Centre last week show astalling in the uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinethis year.
In 2007-08, 85 per cent of children in England at age two had receivedthe first dose, the same percentage as 2006-07. But by the age of five,only 74 per cent had received the second dose of the vaccine.
In London, only 49 per cent of under-fives received both their first andsecond doses.
Helen Bedford, senior lecturer in children's health at the UCL Instituteof Health, said, 'With MMR it's important to have two doses to ensurefull immunity, so that's the background to the rise in measlescases.
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