LIVERPOOL could be facing a measles outbreak as the amount of non-immunised children reaches worrying levels.

The increasing amount of susceptible children who have not been given the MMR vaccine could result in a dangerous number catching the potentially fatal disease.

They are also at risk from mumps, which can cause infertility, and rubella, which can lead to pregnant women miscarrying.

It is estimated around 1,300 children in Liverpool alone have not been vaccinated, and health authorities are concerned that outbreaks of the diseases could result.

A performance report handed to the Primary Care Trust (PCT) board on Tuesday highlights the city’s low immunisation rates.

Dr Rob Barnett, secretary of the Liverpool Local Medical Committee and a GP, said: “It is very important that children are vaccinated with the MMR jab, not least because it will protect them now, but lower rates of immunisation have dire results for the rest of the population, too.

The report to the PCT reads: “The main concern for Liverpool PCT is the uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.

“Liverpool PCT is significantly below target and both national and regional uptake for the per-centage of children aged five who have received two doses of MMR.

“As at February, 2008, there is a waiting list of approximately 1,300 children and there is a risk of measles outbreaks due to the increasing numbers of susceptible children.”

A PCT spokesman stressed the “waiting list” was not due to limited availability of the vaccine or appointments to issue it, rather factors such as parental choice or missed appointments.

Health professionals in the city, have stressed how dangerous re-duced levels of immunisation are.

Dr Barnett said: “We are having increasing numbers of parents refusing the vaccination and that is of great concern. I had hoped we would have got over the links with spurious conditions by now.

“We have seen outbreaks of mumps in the student population which can result in infertility.

“Measles is a potentially fatal disease and we must keep levels of protection from rubella high because of the risks it poses to pregnant women. We need to maintain levels of at least 90% immunisation to ensure a herd immunity; levels lower than this put the population at risk.”

The MMR jab caused con-troversy in 1998 when an article linking it to autism appeared in The Lancet medical journal.

An international public health scare ensued, resulting in thou-sands of parents preventing children from having the vac-cine, and many paying to have single jabs for each infection.

Research concluded in February there was no link.

Dr Paula Grey, director of public health for Liverpool PCT, added: “Immunisation is an important way to protect a child against serious infections. Parents and guardians are advised to bring their child to the health visitor or GP when requested to ensure they are protected at the right time.

“Due to new vaccines being introduced to the vaccine schedule and some children not attending their appoint-ment, we are aware addition-al appointments are required. We are working hard to en-sure these are sent out as soon as possible and investi-gating ways for parents to take up appointments for their children.”

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