Deirdre Clune
Question:272 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of measles reported in each of the health board areas in 1998, 1999 and to date in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18372/00]
Written Answers. - Measles Incidence.
The number of cases of measles notified to my Department, by health board area, for the years 1998, 1999 and to date in 2000 are as follows:
|
Health Board |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
ERHA |
152 |
107 |
1,005 |
|
Midland |
7 |
8 |
31 |
|
Mid-Western |
1 |
4 |
10 |
|
North-Eastern |
4 |
4 |
26 |
|
North-Western |
0 |
0 |
11 |
|
South-Eastern |
3 |
1 |
61 |
|
Southern |
256 |
6 |
59 |
|
Western |
11 |
18 |
15 |
|
Total |
204 |
148 |
1,218 |
In view of the current primary immunisation uptake levels generally, my Department wrote earlier this year to all of the health boards, requesting them to make every effort to achieve the national targets in this programme this year, and to make particular efforts in relation to MMR. Among the issues which boards were asked to address were the need to undertake an analysis of the reasons for the unsatisfactory level of uptake, to ensure that immunisation databases are regularly validated, to address low uptake in the traveller population and to follow up unimmunised children. Boards have been asked to make every effort to devise strategies tailored to local needs, employing innovative approaches, if considered necessary, in order to achieve significant improvements in uptake.
On 31 May, at a meeting between officials of my Department and senior health board management, the importance of addressing the unsatisfactory uptake of MMR and other primary immunisations was again emphasised and all boards were asked to take the necessary measures to maximise uptake levels.
The Office for Health Gain has developed a new campaign to heighten public awareness about the importance of MMR immunisation and this was launched on 20 June.
I take this opportunity to strongly urge parents in all areas of the country to ensure that their children receive the MMR vaccine, which is available free of charge from their family doctor. This will ensure maximum protection against measles, mumps and rubella for individual children and the population generally.