Suffolk parents have been urged to vaccinate their children as it has been revealed that almost 11% of the county's kids are not fully MMR-vaccinated by their fifth birthday.
NHS England data for the year 2022/23 showed a total of 89.1% of children in Suffolk had received both doses of their measles, mumps and rubella vaccine by the age of five, meaning 10.9% had not.
This comes amid outbreaks across the country, with figures showing there have been 216 confirmed measles cases and 103 probable cases in the West Midlands since October 1 last year.
Dr David Brandon, a GP in Haverhill and deputy medical director at NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said: "Measles is an infection that can spread very easily and in some people can lead to serious health issues such as blindness, pneumonia and meningitis.
"Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it as this offers 99% protection from infection.
"Although the Suffolk and north east Essex area has above average MMR vaccination rates, at 90.2%, and in the East of England the take-up is 83.5%, a national incident has been declared, and so it is important that everyone eligible gets protected.
"The MMR vaccination is offered as a routine part of childhood immunisation, and catch-up jabs are also offered for unvaccinated older children and adults.
"It is free, safe and available at GP practices."
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has declared a national incident, an internal mechanism signalling the growing public health risk.
The first dose of the MMR jab is usually offered to babies aged one, with the second dose given at three years and four months.
Dr Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, added: "Measles is not an illness to be dismissed lightly. It is highly contagious with an R rate (or reproduction rate) of between 15 and 16.
"When compared to the R rate of the first strain of COVID-19 of between 2 and 3, it is clear that measles spreads easily and quickly in the unvaccinated. The school classroom is particularly fertile territory for the Measles virus to spread.
"The reason why vaccination against measles is so important is because it can result in serious and life-threatening complications including pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures. In pregnancy, measles can cause miscarriage, still birth and premature labour."
He said there is a lot of misinformation around MMR vaccines which impacts their uptake, and added: "To be clear, the MMR vaccine is safe. It saves lives and it is important that children receive their MMR vaccinations."
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