NT bubs urged to get measles vaccine following outbreak

TERRITORY tots aged nine months and older will now be able to be vaccinated against measles as health experts battle to control an outbreak of the disease in the Top End

Babies 9 months and older will now be able to get vaccinated

TERRITORY tots aged 9 months and older will now be able to be vaccinated against measles s health experts battle to control an “outbreak” of the disease in the Top End.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said free MMR vaccinations would now be available for babies aged 9 months and older, jabs which were previously only available to babies one and older.

Ms Fyles said there had been 23 recorded cases of the measles since mid-February.

“Darwin and Palmerston have a measles outbreak,” she said.

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“We encourage people to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines.”

Sharron Murray from the Centre of Disease Control echoed the call.

She said bubs who had the shots would be instantly protected.

“It would give protection earlier than normal,” she said.

“All children are vulnerable, especially those that are unvaccinated.

“In outbreak situations we want to make sure these children, our vulnerable children, are protected earlier.”

Ms Murray said about 60 per cent of the cases in the current outbreak were people over 20.

“People may have only had one vaccine which was recommended at the time,” she said.

“We have had some cases in the younger age groups.”

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Those who are not immune to measles can easily catch measles in public places such as shopping centres, pharmacies, doctors’ waiting rooms and cafes.

Measles is a very contagious viral illness that is spread between people through coughing and sneezing.

The symptoms of measles are fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes, which usually occur seven to 10 days after exposure to a case, followed a few days later by a red blotchy rash which often starts on the face and then becomes widespread over the body.