UPTAKE of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains, across much of Wales, above the level recorded prior to the 2013 measles outbreak.

The number of children who had been given their first dose of the vaccine by the age of two in 18 out of Wales’ 22 council areas was higher in 2015/16 than it was in 2012/13, new figures have shown.

But the 2015/16 rate was down in most areas on that of the following year.

The measles outbreak centred on Swansea from late 2012-mid 2013, and was the biggest in the UK in 10 years, resulting in more than 1,200 cases, one death, and 88 hospitalisations.

During the outbreak, cases of measles rose in most south Wales council areas and extra vaccination clinics were run at weekends, and in schools and colleges to try to boost the numbers of people who were protected.

In the aftermath, MMR1 uptake increased, considerably in some areas, due to raised awareness of measles and its potentially life-changing and life-threatening dangers.

In most parts of Wales, the 95 per cent target rate of immunisation was reached or exceeded.

Regular achievement of that rate or higher is deemed necessary by public health experts to create what is known as herd immunity, a level of protection at which the likelihood of an outbreak is minimised.

Uptake of MMR2, a second dose of the vaccine which should be given by age five, also rose in the aftermath of the 2013 outbreak, and again, while remaining above 2012/13 levels in most areas of Wales, had also fallen in most areas by 2015/16.

The herd immunity principle is seen as vital for measles, mumps and rubella in terms of children having both doses MMR1 and MMR2.

Uptake of MMR 1 remained higher in all five council areas in Gwent during 2015/16, compared to 2012/13, particularly in Blaenau Gwent, though this area had a lower than average uptake pre-outbreak.

By contrast, in Monmouthshire and Torfaen, uptake in 2015/16 was almost back to 2012/13 levels.

By 2015/16 uptake was below the 95 per cent rate in nine council areas, including Monmouthshire and Newport.

But Blaenau Gwent had the fourth highest uptake rate in Wales, Caerphilly the sixth highest, and Torfaen the ninth highest, all above 95 per cent.

While uptake of MMR2 has increased, it has not reached MMR1 levels, and this has contributed to a less satisfactory picture in terms of the amount of children who have had two doses of MMR by age five.

It was always going to be a challenge to maintain MMR uptake rates long term after the 2013 outbreak, and while they remain higher than pre-outbreak, it is concerning that there appears to be a reduction.