UK Health Security Agency warns of back to school measles surge

UK Health Security Agency, 29 August 2024

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is today issuing an urgent call to parents to ensure their children catch up on missed vaccinations before they head to the classroom, as UKHSA scales up the Childhood Immunisation Marketing Campaign across England amid fears of a further surge in measles cases as the new term begins.

The campaign, delivered by UKHSA in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, will remind parents and carers of the risk of their children missing out on protection against serious diseases, including measles, whooping cough, meningitis, diphtheria and polio.

Since Autumn 23 there have been a number of major measles outbreaks in the West Midlands, North West and London with sporadic cases across the country – resulting in the highest number of cases in England since 2012.