28/03/2024
Dear parent/carer
I am writing to let you know that we have been informed of cases of measles at your child’s school.
Measles spreads very quickly and easily in children and adults who have not been vaccinated. It can cause serious illness requiring hospitalisation and in rare cases death.
The best way to protect yourself and your family is to have two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination. Children are given this just after their first birthday and when they are around 3 years and 4 months. If you or your children haven’t had two doses, you can have them at any time, at any age, for free. There is one type of the vaccine (called Priorix) that does not contain any pork ingredients and has not been in contact with any pork ingredients during manufacture. Anyone can ask for this vaccination.
If you don’t think you or your family have been vaccinated, please get in touch with your GP urgently so they can arrange for you to have them.
Alternatively, you can be vaccinated at:
Clock Tower, outside HSBC Humberstone Gate, Leicester
The Grove Community Hub Braunstone Leicester Le3 1QZ
Primark, 38 Humberstone Gate, Leicester, LE1 3PH
If your children have not had two doses of MMR and they show any of the symptoms listed below, they MUST stay at home for at least four full days after their symptoms started. If, after four full days, they are feeling well and have not developed a rash they can go back to school. If they get a rash they must stay off school for four more full days after the rash appears. This is because measles can be passed on to other people four days before and after the rash appears.
If we have told you that your child has measles, any of their brothers and sisters who are not vaccinated and have not had measles should stay at home for 21 days. This is because it takes this long to know if they have been infected and for any symptoms to appear. Brothers and sisters who have had two MMR vaccinations can continue to go to school as normal.
Symptoms of measles include:
If you think you or your children may have measles please ring NHS 111 or phone your GP surgery. Do NOT visit before phoning as you may pass measles on to other people. Do NOT take your children to school or nursery or places where there are other people as they may pass measles on to other people. Your GP will arrange for your child to be tested and provide advice on how to look after them.
It is really important that you follow this advice to protect yourselves, your children and your community.
There is more information on measles and the MMR vaccination on the NHS website:
With best wishes
Susanne Howes Rob Howard
Consultant in Health Protection, Director of Public Health
East Midlands UK Health Security Agency Leicester City Council
Seaton House, London Rd 115 Charles St
Nottingham, NG2 4LA Leicester, LE1 1FZ
Tel: 0344 225 4524 Email: c19publichealth@leicester.gov.uk