A major measles epidemic in Wales has prompted record numbers of parents to have their children immunised against the disease. However, with adolescents and young adults accounting for a large proportion of cases, the outbreak may be far from over. More than 95% of two-year-olds in Wales have now had the MMR vaccine which can
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In global health terms it is hard to find a more striking yardstick with which to measure inequality. Of the 275,000 women who die from the cervical cancer every year more than 85% are in the world’s poorest countries. And yet the vaccine that could prevent 70% of these deaths has not been available partially
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Europe wants to eliminate measles by 2015 but with thousands of cases recorded last year and on-going outbreaks in several countries, including the UK and Romania, meeting the deadline will be a challenge. Measles usually causes a high fever, runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks. In
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Health authorities in England have added additional vaccines to a revamped vaccine schedule, while France has streamlined its immunisation calendar to make it more user-friendly. In a letter to health professionals, Public Health England said the rotavirus vaccine would be added to the childhood immunisation schedule from July. Rotavirus is the leading cause of acute
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Health professionals are central to the success of immunisation campaigns. They can encourage patients to be vaccinated and set an example by having the vaccines recommended for health workers. The World Medical Association, a global doctors’ group, has launched a new video as part of a campaign to increase influenza immunisation rates among health
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