THE region is “at risk of a measles outbreaks” due to low uptake of the MMR vaccine since the pandemic, according to the director of Public Health for the HSE Mid-West.
Late last month the first case of measles in the Mid-West for four years was detected, Dr Mai Mannix confirmed during a recent briefing of the HSE to Clare County Council.
The case, the first in the country for 2022, involved an individual living in the Mid-West who had been in East Africa where there is a large ongoing outbreak of the disease.
Clare’s uptake of the vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella is at 89.1%, however this falls short of the 95% vaccination rate needed for immunity, she told the meeting.
Neighbouring Limerick’s uptake of the vaccine is lower again at 82.8%.
She stressed the best protection is MMR vaccination, however the uptake rate has declined since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are working hard with our community colleagues in terms of advising and pushing the MMR vaccine and also in the new year we’ll be running an education campaign with our general practice colleagues and practice nurses,” she said.
Speaking about the vaccination percentages for the Mid-West she said, “In terms of Clare, uptake of MMR is at 89.1%. But it is short of the 95% immunity that we really need to prevent an outbreak.”
She continued, “Limerick has uptake rate of 82.8%, one of the worst in the country, below the 95% herd immunity mark. We are at risk of measles outbreaks due to
low uptake.”
A drop in the number of those getting their second Covid booster compared with their first dose of the vaccine has also been experienced in the Mid-West.
According to Dr Mannix there are between 150 to 200 cases of Covid weekly in the region.
“Thankfully because of the vaccine, we’re finding that people aren’t getting as sick or requiring hospital admission as they would have done before the vaccine came into being.”
Although 99.9% of the population aged over 18 received a primary dose of the vaccine, the uptake of the second booster is at 28.9%.
“We really need to encourage people in that category to get their second booster, because there is still a risk of serious illness and death if they become unwell with Covid, particituarly in the over 65s.
“There are vaccines out there and we really need to encourage people to get them and also to advise people if they are symptomatic, to really stay at home and stay out of circulation really until you are 48 hours symptom free.”