• they have not had 2 doses of MMR vaccine
  • they have a preschool or primary school child who never had MMR vaccine
  • they have a primary school child who missed out on the 2nd dose
  • they are not sure if their. child has had 2 doses of MMR vaccine
Babies less than a year old are most at risk of contracting the disease, as well as those with weaker immune systems. Signs of the measles include:

  • cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, watery eyes, swollen eyelids and sneezing,
  • red eyes and sensitivity to light,
  • a mild to severe temperature, which may peak at over 40.6°C (105°F) for several days, then fall but go up again when the rash appears,
  • tiny greyish-white spots (called Koplik’s spots) in the mouth and throat,
  • tiredness, irritability and general lack of energy,
  • aches and pains,
  • poor appetite,
  • dry cough, and
  • red-brown spotty rash
 While it is uncommon, there are very serious complications that can come with having the measles, including:
  • meningitis,
  • pneumonia (lung infection), signs of which are fast, difficult breathing, chest pain and deteriorating condition,
  • hepatitis (liver infection),
  • encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which can be fatal, so watch for drowsiness, headache and vomiting,
  • low platelet count, known medically as thrombocytopenia, which affects the blood’s ability to clot,
  • bronchitis and croup (infection of the airways), characterised by a hacking or barking cough, and
  • squint, if the virus affects the nerves and muscles of the eye.

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