Eloise HorsfieldA SHARP rise in measles cases has led to calls for the vaccination age to be lowered.
There were 2,000 confirmed cases of the illness in Spain last year, compared to just 173 in 2010, according to Spain’s Association of Paediatricians (AEP).
The increase is being attributed to an upsurge in measles across Europe, with over 30,000 reported cases last year, including eight deaths.
The AEP are now advising that the age at which children receive the MMR triple vaccine be lowered from 15 months to 12 months.
It follows a number of cases in which children between the age of 12 and 15 months old contracted the viral illness.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children, although fatalities caused by the illness dropped 78 per cent between 2000 and 2008 due to vaccinations.
Symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after infection and include high fever, runny nose, bloodshot eyes and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth.
Much of this surge in measles is caused by the fall-out some time ago of paranoia spread by red-tops like the Mail et al, who falsely claimed there was evidence that the triple vaccine caused autism in children. Utter poppycock of course, but no retractions or apologies followed, so there is still a lingering doubt in some parents minds.The so-called journalists and “experts” should hang their heads in shame.Measles is no joke.
What is the next step regarding this as I have contacted my sons doctor surgery and they are telling me that they know nothing about this and that the MMR jab is still 15 months!!
My son is 11 months now, so im starting to worry :(