CUMBRIA missed the target for children's vaccination levels against measles, mumps and rubella last year, figures show. 

Recent NHS figures have revealed that 93.5 per cent of youngsters in Cumbria had both doses of the MMR vaccine by their fifth birthday in 2022-23 – which is slightly below the 95 per cent target set by the World Health Organisation.

Worryingly, it also fell from 94 per cent coverage the year before.

Across England, 84.5 per cent of five-year-olds had the second jab of the vaccine by 2022-23. It was the lowest level recorded since 2010-11.

Colin Cox, Cumbria's director of public health, said: "The fall in vaccination rates for serious childhood illnesses is a real concern.

"While Cumbria still does well in vaccinating children compared to the national average, recently we have seen MMR rates dropping below the 95 per cent threshold for the first time in many years.

"The impact of lower vaccination rates can be seen in other areas which have seen outbreaks of measles – a disease that can cause serious complications in some children.

"So if your child has missed any of their vaccinations it’s really important that you get in touch with your GP to get them caught up – it can save your child from serious health problems later.”

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, a consultant medical epidemiologist at UKHSA, also described the downward trend as a 'serious concern'.

She said: "The diseases that these vaccines protect against, such as measles, polio and meningitis, can be life-changing and even deadly.

"No parent wants this for their child especially when these diseases are easily preventable. Please don’t put this off, check now that your children are fully up to date with all their vaccines due.

"Check your child’s red book and get in touch with your GP surgery if you are not sure."

In the UK, babies are also offered immunisation against meningitis B and rotavirus at eight weeks old, and are also given the '6-in-1' jab, which helps fight polio, tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae type b – a bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections.