HUNDREDS of people in Gwent took advantage of weekend clinics to get their children or themselves vaccinated against measles. But only time will tell if the rush to get an MMR jab will be enough to contain the ongoing Swansea outbreak.

FOR health chiefs, the public response to specialMMRvaccination clinics set up last weekend across Wales will have been very encouraging.

More than 800 people were vaccinated at two sessions in Gwent – at Newport’s Bellevue Surgery and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr at Ystrad Mynach – among more than 3,000 across South Wales.

More clinics are being planned in Gwent over the next couple of weekends in an effort to get as many children and young people protected as possible.

The UK’s worst measles outbreak in a decade shows no signs of abating, with more than 765 confirmed cases in Swansea and the surrounding area. And with more cases reported, but not yet confirmed there, the NHS in Wales remains on high alert.

It is estimated that 40,000 children and young people across Wales are not fully protected against measles., mumps and rubella. More than 9,000 of these are in Gwent, and while most have received only one dose ofMMR instead of the recommended two, some have had none.

Dr Gill Stephenson, director of public health for Aneurin Bevan Health Board, said increased interest among parents and others in theMMRjab prompted the setting up of the weekend clinics.

“We organised Saturday’s clinics and more on the two Saturdays following to make sure we can deliverMMRto all those who are seeking it,” said Dr Stephenson.

“We’ve also informed GPs and primary care teams they will experience renewed interest, and there is additionalMMRvaccine available, so we have enough stock.”

A vaccination rate of 95 per cent or higher for MMR1 (at 12-13 months) and MMR2 (at three years, four months) is required across the population in order to minimise the spread of a disease that causes a range of complications and in rare cases can kill.

In 1998, a since discredited link betweenMMRand autism caused a drop in vaccination rates that has not been fully recovered.

While some areas of Wales are achieving 95 per cent rates or higher in MMR1, these have not yet been achieved for long enough, or regularly enough, in sufficient areas. Meanwhile, MMR2 rates remain on average several percentage points below the required rate in most of Wales.

“There’s a tranche of teenagers who have not had both doses.

Children in their late teens, those over 15, will be quite susceptible.

Coming up to GCSE time it is especially worrying,” said Dr Stephenson, who added that preschool children are a priority for vaccination.

“We do not want to see measles erupt in Gwent because of gaps in coverage.”

Early measles symptoms include runny nose, cough and fever, followed by the rash. Nausea, sickness, stomach pain and diarrhoea can also occur, but it is the potential complications of measles that are especially concerning.

These can include hearing problems and deafness, pneumonia, hepatitis, encephalitis (brain inflammation, (one in around 5,000 cases) and, in one in around 1,000 cases, measles can kill.

“It can be very distressing for the patient, and their parents or family.

In Swansea around 60 people have been hospitalised and some have been in intensive care. Yet this is a preventable illness,” said Dr Stephenson.

It is 45 years since a measles vaccine was introduced in the UK, and 25 years since the combinedMMR jab was brought in.

As well as the MMR/autism scare, we are two or three generations removed from a time when measles was a very common disease, predominantly of childhood.

Prior to 1968, there were an average 500,000 cases a year and around 100 deaths in the UK.

“People have not realised how serious it can be. We want to help them seize the moment, and get protected,” said Dr Stephenson.

● ThreeMMRclinics are being planned for Gwent on Saturday, April 20, at the outpatient departments at the Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall Hospitals, and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr.

They will run from 10am-4pm.

THERE have been 34 measles cases in Gwent since January 1, slightly more than usual.

“We can’t say we are having an outbreak, but there have been a lot of sporadic cases. There’s been a slight increase this month and a clustering of teenage cases,” said Dr Stephenson.

“That is why we are concerned. It’s a small world, South Wales has lots of interchange, with families, trips. (With these clinics) we are trying to build a firewall. We’re optimistic that if parents and young people seize the opportunity, the spread can be minimised.

“Meanwhile, if someone thinks they have measles, they should self-isolate.

“Don’t go to A&E. If you need to see your GP, alert them so they can do a home visit or arrange for a consultation in a different room.”

Health minister Mark Drakeford said last weekend’s clinics were “not used enough.” He urged people to act to prevent measles “happening to their families and communities.”