SINGAPORE – The Health Ministry (MOH) is urging parents in Singapore to ensure that their children have received vaccination against measles, after recording nearly three times more cases this year compared to last year.
In a statement on Thursday (May 26), MOH revealed that there have been a total of 50 measles cases reported as of May 21 this year. In contrast, the same period in 2015 saw just 17 cases.
There were 40 local cases, of which 34 involved children. 17 involved children under the age of one who were not due for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination, while 14 cases were between one and six years and had missed their vaccination.
MOH stressed that the best preventive measure against measles is vaccination, which is compulsory in Singapore under the Infectious Diseases Act.
Under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule, children should be given two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination. The first should be given when they are one year old, with the second at 15 to 18 months.
“It is important to ensure that young children receive two doses of MMR vaccination on time” the ministry said, adding that parents should bring their children to be vaccinated if they had not yet done so, or missed the vaccination schedule.
MOH also advised people who have not yet been vaccinated to do so, especially if there is a baby being cared for at home.
The vaccination is available at polyclinics, where it is fully subsidised for Singaporeans. It is also available at private general practitioner and private paediatric clinics, where Medisave can be used.
Measles is a highly infectious disease, and is spread through air droplets and direct contact with nasal and throat secretions.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and rashes, but a patient could already be infectious before the onset of the symptoms.
seanyap@sph.com.sg
