Preventive Measures
Turning point in MMR vaccinations?
Completed immunisations at 24 months, UK
Immunisation
The immunisation rate for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine among 24 month old children living in the UK fell by 10 percentage points over the ten years to 2002/03, from 92 per cent in 1993/94 to 82 per cent in 2002/03. Concerns by some over the safety of the MMR combined vaccine led to this fall.
By the last quarter of 2002/3, the MMR vaccination rate had in fact dropped to 79 per cent. However, more recent quarterly figures show consistent increases in each quarter of 2003/04, to 82 per cent in the final quarter.
The proportion of children immunised against diphtheria by their second birthday has been much more stable, falling from 95 per cent to 94 per cent over the ten-year period.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) target coverage for MMR and diphtheria immunisation is 95 per cent.
Rate of breastfeeding at birth, 1995 and 2000, UK
Breastfeeding
Between 1995 and 2000, the rate of breastfeeding at birth in the UK rose from 66 per cent to 69 per cent. Northern Ireland experienced the greatest increase, rising from 45 per cent to 54 per cent, closely followed by Scotland where the rate rose from 55 per cent to 63 per cent.
Breastfeeding at birth is related to age of mother. In 2000, the UK rates ranged from 46 per cent among teenage mothers to 78 per cent for mothers aged 30 and over. Rates are also related to age of leaving full-time education. In 2000, 54 per cent of mothers educated to age 16 or below initiated breastfeeding compared with 88 per cent of those educated to at least age 19.
In Scotland, 40 per cent of mothers who started breastfeeding at birth were still doing so six months later. This compared with 34 per cent of those in England and Wales and only 21 per cent in Northern Ireland.
Research has shown that breast milk protects young children from a variety of illnesses, and enhances their cognitive development. Mothers who breastfeed are also protected against cancer and osteoporosis. Following WHO guidance, in the UK exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of an infant's life.
Sources: NHS Immunisation Statistics, Department of Health for yearly immunisation data Communicable Disease Report Weekly, Health Protection Agency for quarterly immunisation data Infant Feeding Survey 1995 and Infant Feeding Survey 2000, Department of Health for breastfeeding data Evensen, S (1982) Relationship between infant morbidity and breast-feeding versus artificial feeding in industrialised countries: a review of the literature, Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe. Horwood, J,& Fergusson,D(1998) Breastfeeding and later cognitive and academic outcomes, Pediatrics, 101(1), e9 Notes: Yearly immunisation data relate to the period April to March. Rate of breastfeeding at birth is defined as the proportion of babies who were breastfed initially and this includes babies who were put to the breast at all, even if only on one occasion.
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