Children and adolescents who did not receive the full course of the MMR vaccine are being called in by health authorities to complete the immunisation process.
“This is being done in view of the significant measles outbreaks occurring in various parts of Europe,” Victoria Farrugia Sant’Angelo, who heads Malta’s National Immunisation Programme, said.
Health Promotion director Charmaine Gauci stressed there was no cause for alarm since Malta had a very high coverage rate when it came to people vaccinated against MMR – measles, mumps and rubella.
Figures obtained by the Health Ministry showed that last year there were no reported cases of measles compared to five cases in 2011. Last year there were two reported cases of the mumps and one case of rubella whereas in 2011 the figures stood at zero and 20, respectively.
92%
the percentage of young Maltese children who received the two doses of MMR vaccine
Over the past months hundreds of people have contracted measles in south Wales and the north of England. An immunisation campaign was launched there to cover those who never received the MMR vaccine.
Measles is a highly infectious illness caused by a virus. Most people recover fully but it can have very serious complications including blindness and death. During pregnancy it can be particularly serious and may lead to damage to the baby’s health.
The MMR jab had gained a “bad reputation” following a 1998 study published in the medical journal Lancet by a team of researchers led by Andrew Wakefield.
The research linked the MMR vaccine with autism. The study has since been discredited, the paper was retracted by the journal and Mr Wakefield was struck off the medical register for offences relating to dishonesty.
Dr Sant’Angelo pointed out that Malta had a high vaccine coverage rate. Latest statistics showed that more than 92 per cent of its young children received the two doses of MMR vaccine.
“This figure was probably higher when one considered that some parents opted to give this vaccine privately. If doctors do not report vaccinations given in the private sector to the National Immunisation Service, then they would not be recorded on the national database,” she said.
She added that the MMR vaccine was free as part of the National Immunisation Schedule.
The first dose is given to children at the age of 13 months and a second booster dose is given at three years of age. These two doses should afford protection against measles, mumps and rubella infection throughout life.
“We are currently undertaking an exercise to recall children and adolescents who have not received the full course of MMR according to our database,” she said.