MORE THAN 1,600 children, teenagers and young adults were immunised against measles in Gwent over the weekend.

Aneurin Bevan Health Board’s head of planning and civil contingencies Wendy Warren said the death of a man in Swansea suffering from measles had increased concern, prompting people to attend Saturday's clinics in Gwent.

The Swansea coroner is investigating whether measles caused the death of Gareth Williams, 25. Public Health Wales has recorded more than 800 cases in the south Wales outbreak.

The turnotu for vaccinations this weekend came after Welsh health minister Mark Drakeford said last week he found the previous weekend's turnout for MMR jabs "disappointing".

Ms Warren said: "We have had lots of volunteers helping out and had 500 vaccinations ready at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, with lots in reserve. The turnout has been very positive."

Staff at Ystrad Fawr, Ystrad Mynach, Nevill Hall, Abergavenny and the Royal Gwent, Newport, had planned to hold sessions between 10am and 4pm.

But, there were hundreds of people at Ystrad Fawr at around 9am, with volunteers starting to immunise peple against MMR from 9.15am.

Among those being vaccinated was one-year-old Daisy Rees-Eddy from Blackwood. Her parents Russell and Jodie were told that Daisy was younger than the age group they are specifically targeting and that the epedemic hasn’t yet spread to this area.

But, Mrs Rees-Eddy said: "Russell works in Bridgend, so could pick it up. And we are concerned that if it is does spread and she is not vaccinated, they may have run out of vaccinations."

Daisy started crying as the needle was put into her arm, but was smiling again a few minutes later as she was given a ‘I was brave’ badge to wear and grapes by her parents.

Sian Payne brought daughter Miley, two. She said: "She picks up everything, so wanted her vaccinated."

The main group that health workers are targeting, though, are teenagers. Morgan Price, 17, from Caerphilly county, said: "I didn’t think I needed it, but was told yesterday I do. It’s very important and my family had been urging me to come along."

Immunisation co-ordinator Jane Francis said it is teenagers they are targetting, who were not vaccinated because of concerns about the procedure when they were young.

Public Health Wales figures released last week showed that over 9,000 children aged five to 18 are not protected in Gwent.

Mrs Francis added that those that have only had one jab are 90 per cent protected, while it is the second booster jab that gives 99 per cent protection.

While there have only been 34 cases of measles in Gwent between January and April this year, an Aneurin Bevan Health Board spokesman urged those not vaccinated to get their jabs.

He said the outbreak is particularly affecting 10 to 14-year-olds who missed doses at a young age and said it is "a matter of time" before someone is left with serious complications because of it.

On Saturday, 600 people were immunised at Ystrad Fawr, over 500 at the Royal Gwent and 495 at Nevill Hall.