MMR vaccine reminder: NHS warns of rising measles risk in unvaccinated children
3 mins read
Tuesday 29 July 2025
The NHS is urging parent carers across the UK to check whether their child has had one or both doses of the MMR vaccine. This vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella, three serious illnesses that are spreading again.
Measles spreads easily and there have been outbreaks in England and Scotland this year, mainly in unvaccinated children under 10. This month, a child in Liverpool died after getting the disease. Summer is known to be a riskier time as families travel to countries where there are also outbreaks.
Health chiefs say it is very important that every child gets both doses for full protection. The number of children who have got the first dose of the MMR vaccine is nearly at target levels, but there is a big drop in the number of children getting the second dose.
The vaccine is free and available anytime, so if your child has missed one or both doses or is now older, it’s never too late to catch up.
How do I check if my child has had the MMR vaccine?
- Look in your child’s Red Book under the vaccination section.
- Call your GP surgery and ask them to check your child’s vaccination record
- Speak to your child’s health visitor if they have one
How do I book an MMR Vaccine?
There are various ways to book an MMR vaccine depending on where you live in the UK. But in all four nations, the vaccine is free and can be booked at any time.
England: Call your GP practice to book. Some areas also have walk-in clinics which are listed on council websites.
Scotland: Contact your local NHS immunisation team (full list by area here) or contact your GP.
Wales: Contact your GP
Northern Ireland: Contact your GP or visit nidirect.gov.uk for local clinics.
Need more information or want to speak to someone?
Public health bodies say that some communities, such as ethnic minority groups, newly arrived migrants, and people whose first language isn’t English, face more barriers to getting vaccinated and have lower rates of vaccination. This can be for many reasons including not knowing how to get vaccinated and finding it harder to access information. It’s also understood that parents from all communities may have concerns about the vaccine and its safety.
If you’re worried or have questions, speak to your GP practice. They can explain the process and talk through any concerns you might have.
Useful resources
Easy-to-read leaflets and videos in many languages are available at:
A list of symptoms and advice on what to do if you think you or your child has measles is available on the NHS website
