Action needed now to prevent rubella outbreaks – deafblind charity
25 April 2013
National deafblind charity Sense today welcomed the launch of the catch-up campaign to increase MMR vaccination in children and teenagers but emphasised that action was needed now to prevent outbreaks of rubella.
Joff McGill, Lead on Rubella and Immunisation at Sense, said:
“We can’t wait for rubella outbreaks to follow measles – now is the time to catch up and stay ahead of rubella. Last year saw the highest number of rubella cases since 1999. We have to act now to protect pregnant women and their unborn babies and to prevent the situation getting worse.
“We fully support the campaign launched today, which comes not a moment too soon. Rubella, if contracted by a woman who is pregnant, causes babies to be born with combined sight and hearing loss, along with life threatening heart conditions and a long list of other health conditions.The large group of unvaccinated young people, along with evidence for increasing susceptibility to rubella in younger woman and in women from ethnic minorities, means immunisation can no longer be a childhood issue.”
Sense recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine to protect women and their unborn children against measles, mumps and rubella.
Media enquiries
For media enquiries contact the Sense press office on 0845 127 0060.
Related links
MMR and rubella - letter from Sense published in The Guardian