THOUSANDS of children must be vaccinated in a bid to prevent a measles outbreak in Huddersfield.

A national catch-up programme to increase MMR vaccination uptake in children and teenagers has been announced by Public Health England, NHS England and the Department of Health.

It comes after an outbreak in South Wales that has already claimed one life.

Health chiefs believe there are more than 4,200 youngsters in Kirklees who have never had an MMR jab and over 8,000 who haven’t had the follow-up injection.

Children need to have both doses to get full immunity.

Figures show 94% have had the first dose – 1% away from the 95% target – but just 85% have had the second dose.

In Calderdale 2,771 (92%) have had the first dose and 5,430 (79%) have had the second jab.

Swansea, which has suffered the worst outbreak, had 90% and 73% immunisation levels respectively.

There have been no cases of measles during the first three months of 2013 in Kirklees, but the region did suffer four cases last year.

Kirklees Director of Public Health Dr Judith Hooper said: “Measles is a potentially fatal but entirely preventable disease and it is very disappointing to see an increase in cases nationally.

“Although the number of confirmed cases in our area remains low, it is important that we do our utmost to prevent further cases.

“Measles is not a mild illness.

“It is very unpleasant and can lead to serious complications as we have seen with more than 100 children in England being hospitalised so far this year.

“It is never too late to get vaccinated against measles.

“The catch-up programme recommends an approach to specifically target those young people most at risk.

“Those who have not been vaccinated should urgently seek at least one dose of MMR vaccination which will give them 95% protection against measles.

“A second dose is then needed to provide almost complete protection.

“The only way to prevent measles outbreaks is to ensure good uptake of the MMR across all age groups and that when cases are reported immediate public health action is taken to protect vulnerable individuals as soon as possible.

“Parents of unvaccinated children, teenagers and young adults who have missed out on MMR should urgently arrange to be vaccinated by their GP.

“If you are unsure whether you or your child has had two doses of the vaccine, speak to your GP who will have a record.”

Public Health England show high numbers of confirmed measles cases in England in the first three months of 2013, reaching 587 by the end of March, following a record annual high of almost 2,000 cases in 2012.

There were 50 cases during the first three months of 2013 in Yorkshire and the longer term trend is one of increasing cases.

Experts believe the rise in measles cases is mostly down to the proportion of unprotected 10 to 16-year-olds, who missed out on vaccination in the late 1990s and early 2000s when concern around the discredited link between autism and the vaccine was widespread. After years of low vaccination uptake, measles became re-established in 2007.

Children aged ten to 16 who have missed the MMR jab are now being targeted in time for the next school year.