The MMR vaccine protects a child against measles, mumps and rubella. It is given to children at 13 months and again before they start school. The second dose protects those that did not respond to the first dose. Since 1988 when MMR was introduced in the UK the number of children catching these diseases has fallen to an all-time low. Measles can be a serious illness that the vaccine prevents. There are often complications from measles and it can kill. Mumps used to be the biggest cause of viral meningitis in children. The rubella vaccine prevents babies being badly damaged if their mother catches rubella whilst pregnant. MMR prevents all three of these diseases in a single injection.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Band 1 - poor | less than 72% |
| Band 2 | greater than or equal to 72% and less than 79% |
| Band 3 | greater than or equal to 79% and less than 85% |
| Band 4 | greater than or equal to 85% and less than 87% |
| Band 5 - good | Greater than or equal to 87% |