HUDDERSFIELD students are being targeted by a vaccination drive to combat the spread of measles, mumps and rubella.
Young people at sixth forms, colleges and universities are being urged to make sure they are protected after missing out on a second dose of the MMR vaccine when they were children.
The group, born between 1982 and 1990, was not given a second jab because it was deemed unnecessary by Government health chiefs at the time.
Now evidence suggests one vaccine might not be enough to fully protect the population against the bugs.
Sohail Bhatti, director of public health for Huddersfield Central and South Huddersfield, said: "This local initiative is part of a national strategy to try and prevent disease outbreaks of mumps in students in further and higher education.
"Although protected against measles these students may have been too old to have received two doses of the MMR vaccine when they were children.
"Two doses are important to secure good levels of protection against mumps."
His comments came after three confirmed and 15 suspected cases of mumps were reported at Huddersfield University in November, coinciding with a national outbreak of the disease.
But deputy director of public health for Huddersfield Central and South Huddersfield PCTs James Williams said a certain level of infection was expected each year.
He said: "So far this year there has been one positive confirmation of mumps at the university.
"If there is a susceptible group of people you are always going to find mumps is more likely.
"The only time we start to think there is a problem is when we get large numbers."
He urged any student who thought they had not been given two doses of MMR as a child to contact their GP to arrange a free vaccination.
Anybody showing symptoms of mumps or any other illness was advised to contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
