The UK's health ministry has advised parents to ensure their children are completely vaccinated against measles before the new school term begins, citing concerns that student mixing at school could lead to a fresh wave of cases.

Since the beginning of 2024, 2,278 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles have been reported in England, with London and the West Midlands being disproportionately affected, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Sixty-two percent of instances have involved youngsters under the age of ten.

Measles can cause serious disease or even death, but it usually starts with symptoms similar to a cold and progresses to a rash. It spreads easily among people who are not vaccinated.

The MMR vaccine protects against measles, as well as mumps and rubella, with the first dose offered at one year old and a second at three years and four months as part of the NHS routine childhood immunisation programme.

UKHSA is now stepping up its efforts to boost childhood vaccinations by reminding parents of the dangers of children missing out on protection against measles – as well as against other diseases such as meningitis, polio and whooping cough – through a series of adverts on TV, radio, social media and posters.

Andrew Gwynne, the minister for public health and prevention, said measles could be a serious and sometimes deadly disease.

“Vaccines are our best form of protection, and it is vital that children receive all their vaccinations,” he said. “With the autumn term just around the corner, I am urging all parents to catch up on any missed jabs to keep children safe as they return to the classroom or nursery.”

Since last autumn England has seen a surge in measles cases, with outbreaks initially occurring in the West Midlands and then in other areas including London. According to UKHSA, the situation has led to the highest level of cases since 2012.

In January UKHSA declared a national incident and warned that uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was at its lowest level in more than a decade, with population coverage for two doses below the 95% threshold that would prevent measles from spreading.

Efforts to boost uptake have included the national catchup campaign for MMR that was launched in November last year and ramped up in the following months.

According to a new report from UKHSA, such drives have borne fruit: between August 2023 and April 2024 there was a 4.9% increase in uptake of the second jab among black, black British, Caribbean or African children aged between three years, seven months and five years, while more than 13% of previously unvaccinated children aged five years or under received their first MMR jab during the campaign period.