West Midlands call to get MMR vaccine as new figures show measles cases continue to hit region

Adults as well as children are being urged to get protected against measles as latest figures show cases continue to circulate across the West Midlands and many other parts of the country.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published the latest measles data on Thursday, which found that since the last update two weeks ago, a further 106 laboratory confirmed measles cases have been reported in England, bringing the total number of cases confirmed between January 1 and June 8 to 736, compared to 959 cases for the whole of 2025.

The West Midlands region has had 18 per cent (136/736) of cases, with 11 per cent (79/736) in Birmingham.

To date in 2026, there have also been two measles deaths in children in England.

Measles activity increased earlier this year, mainly due to outbreaks in London and the West Midlands, with the majority of cases in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under.

While the majority of cases in the region were being seen in school-aged children across the Birmingham area, since the start of May, there has been a steep rise in cases in Worcestershire, with mainly adults affected.

Emma Booth, Consultant in Health Protection leading on vaccine preventable diseases for UKHSA in the West Midlands, said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with the families who have so tragically lost their children.

“Measles continues to circulate in the West Midlands region, as in many parts of the country, and as we have seen, it can be very serious and even fatal.

“While many cases are in school-aged children, we are now seeing a significant number of adults catching measles in the West Midlands, especially in the Worcestershire area.

“That’s why we want to remind people that measles doesn’t just affect children, anyone unvaccinated is at risk.

“We’re urging anyone who hasn’t had two doses of the MMR vaccine to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“Measles can spread quickly in unvaccinated communities, and can cause serious complications, especially in young children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.

“The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect families from measles, mumps and rubella. It’s safe, free of charge and can be given at any age.

“We encourage people to check that they and their family members have had two doses of MMR, and to contact their GP surgery if they are unsure, or to book an appointment for any doses missed.”

For people who do not touch any pork products, there is a version of the MMR vaccine, Priorix, which has no pork ingredients. You can request this vaccine from your GP.