Commenting on MMR vaccination figures for the capital, released today by the NHS, James Cleverly AM, Chairman of the London Assembly Health and Public Services Committee, said:
"Immediate action is needed to protect Londoners from disease before the risks to public health - which are already at unacceptably high levels - increase even further.
“The gap between coverage levels achieved in the capital and the national average is widening. Compared to the country's average of 74 percent, only 49 percent of children in the capital have had the MMR vaccine and booster by their fifth birthday.
This is unacceptable. Complications from measles and mumps can be devastating to children and their families. Parents need to give their children a healthy start in life - vaccinations are an effective means of preventing potentially life-threatening diseases."
"It is worrying that 11 London PCTs did not report any data, as without knowing the true scale of the problem, we cannot begin to tackle this danger to public health."
