Now’s a good time to check your child is protected against measles.

Cases of measles are on the rise. With the summer break just around the corner and the school term nearing an end, now is a good time to check if your child is fully vaccinated against measles.

We know that an infectious disease such as measles can spread easily in school-settings, especially for pupils transitioning from primary to secondary school in August, or moving school at any other time, when they’ll be mixing with lots of new young people.

The MMR vaccine is offered free by NHSScotland and is over 95% effective in protecting against measles. Measles can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications. This is why it’s important to check your child has had two doses of the MMR vaccine.

It’s also important that your child is vaccinated against measles before you go on holiday this summer as cases of measles in some other parts of the UK and abroad are higher than they are in Scotland.

They should have had doses when they were a baby and before they started primary school, but it’s never too late to catch up if they missed a dose. You can find out how to check your child is fully protected at https://nhsinform.scot/MMRagainstmeasles

Vaccine Confidence & Equity Team

Public Health Scotland