THE return of measles in Britain has prompted Sandwell health chiefs to find youngsters in the borough who have not been vaccinated.

The council is searching for 10 to 16-year-olds who have missed out on vaccinations in the late 1990s an early 2000s due to ill informed parents deciding not to have MMR jabs..

The Government demanded an urgent vaccination catch up campaign after an outbreak of measles in South Wales which has led to one death and scores taken ill.

However, no cases have been reported in Sandwell this year and there was only one last year.Councillor Paul Moore said: “There is no room for complacency.

“We want to make sure that absolutely everything possible is done to safeguard the public.

He added: “We will support health professionals to ensure the organisation of extra MMR vaccinations goes as smoothly as possible.”

Sandwell’s director of public health, Dr John Middleton, has ordered an immediate trawl of child heath records to identify the children in the borough who need vaccinations.

The information will be sent to GP practices across the borough by next Monday (April 29) so doctors can organise catch-up vaccinations.

One dose of MMR vaccination gives 95 per cent protection against measles. A second dose then provides almost complete protection.

Dr Middleton said: “Top priority will be given to those who have had no vaccination at all, followed by those who have had one dose but not a second.

“Once practices have checked the data we send them, they will contact the youngsters concerned to offer vaccinations.

“At this stage we see no immediate need for extra vaccination clinics but we will keep this option under review.

“Similarly, we see no need yet to launch school vaccination sessions on top of those already offered to 15 to 16-year-olds when they leave school – but, again, we will review this if necessary.”

Dr Middleton is also writing to school nurses and health visitors to alert them to a potential rise in demand for advice on MMR vaccination from students.

He advised people to contact their GP if their child missed out on one or two doses of the MMR vaccination.