Written question WQ92647
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
How does the Cabinet Secretary plan to increase awareness of the benefits of parents vaccinating their children in light of the increase in the spread of measles in south-east Wales?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The current outbreak in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area is worrying. The health board is working with Public Health Wales (PHW) to contain the outbreak, through isolation, contact tracing, and other measures.
We have been clear with health boards that every opportunity must be taken to increase MMR uptake to protect local populations and help prevent future outbreaks.
The best way to protect against the spread of measles is by having a complete course of the MMR vaccine – that’s two doses. In February, a Welsh Health Circular was issued requiring health boards to ensure 90% of pupils in every school in Wales is fully vaccinated by 31 July 2024. This was accompanied by a letter to Directors of Education seeking their support with messaging the importance of vaccination and facilitating catch-up activity in schools. At the same time, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales issued a public call-to-action asking parents to check their children’s vaccination status and to come forward where children are not fully vaccinated.
Further communication and engagement with the public about the importance of the MMR vaccine has been undertaken and more is planned in the coming weeks and months. The NHS Executive’s vaccination programme has produced a national communications plan, bringing together all the work being done by health boards, PHW and the Welsh Government.