This is South Wales --EMERGENCY vaccination sessions for youngsters have been such a success they are going to be repeated next weekend.
Around 1,200 people were given the MMR jab at drop-in clinics in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend on Saturday in an attempt to tackle the current outbreak of the virus.
A second round of vaccinations has now been planned — and health bosses say staff will also be going into schools as soon as pupils are back from the Easter holidays to continue the immunisation drive.
The vaccination sessions were run in Morriston, Singleton, Neath Port Talbot and the Princess of Wales hospitals on Saturday, with long queues of anxious parents forming even before the doors had opened.
Sara Hayes, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board's public health director, thanked parents for responding to the MMR initiative, and for their patience while waiting in line. She said: "We are absolutely delighted with the response from parents. We were hoping for 800 vaccinations across all four sites — but the actual figure is estimated to be around 50 per cent higher, at 1,100 to 1,200.
"We've vaccinated a wide range of age groups — mainly children, but also some of their parents, and other adults.
"This is a very helpful step in tackling this measles outbreak, and safeguarding our population for the future.
"But there's still more to do.
''We will be repeating these drop-in MMR vaccination clinics next Saturday on all four hospital sites, and we will be starting our schools immunisation campaign straight after the Easter break."
The current outbreak has seen almost 600 youngsters in South West Wales coming down with the contagious virus.
Health officials have warned it is "just a matter of time" before a child is left with serious and permanent complications from measles, which could include blindness, deafness or brain damage.
Protected
The vaccination session in Morriston was due to get under way at 10am on Saturday, but people were queuing from 9am.
One of those waiting in line was Tara Littler, from Pontardawe, who had brought her two-and-a-half year old daughter Olivia to get the jab.
She said: "She has had her first MMR and we have brought her along for her second one.
"With her in nursery we wanted to make sure she was fully protected.
"The paramount thing is her safety.
"Pretty much everyone I know with children of this age are getting it done."
Also in the queue were Gareth and Hannah King from Pontarddulais, who had travelled to Morriston with their 10-month old son, Ethan.
Mrs King said: "We've come to the clinic because of the rise in cases.
"A lot of parents are worried about the outbreak — the side effects of measles can be very serious."
Gorseinon dad Dominic Edgell was also at Morriston with his two month old son, George.
Mr Edgell said: "This measles outbreak is concerning.
"George will be starting school in June and we want to make sure he is fully protected.
"It is important that all parents get this done for the safety of everyone's children."
Swansea GP Dai Lloyd echoed that sentiment.
The doctor, who works in surgeries in Cockett and Townhill, was at Morriston Hospital on Saturday, and he urged all parents to make sure their children were fully protected.
"We have forgotten just what a nasty disease measles is," he said.
"It is not just a cough and a cold — it can lead to very serious complications. We haven't killed the virus — it is still out there — but we can stop people catching it.
"The vaccination is effective and is completely and utterly safe — my son was one of the first people in Swansea to have the triple vaccine when it was introduced. I would urge every parent to get their children — aged from six months to 18 years vaccinated — to have the full dose of two injections not just to protect them but to maintain the level of protection in the general population."
South West Wales is not the only part of Britain hit by measles — more than 400 cases were reported in a major outbreak in Liverpool last year with another 200 in Sussex, while a current outbreak in the North East of England has topped 200. Reported by This is 13 hours ago.