Oxfordshire NHS services are encouraging parents and carers to ensure their children have the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, following a surge in measles cases across the UK.

Parents of children aged six to 11 have been contacted by NHS teams, who are urging them to make an appointment for their child's overdue MMR jab with their local GP surgery.

There is a significant proportion of children below 16 living across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB), who are not fully immunised, putting them at risk of these completely preventable severe diseases.

The NHS highlighted that misinformation about the MMR vaccine continues to be shared on social networks and other online platforms.

It aims to reassure parents that these unfounded myths have been continuously refuted and urges them to seek out information from reliable sources such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) or the NHS itself.

Rachael Corser, chief nursing officer for BOB Integrated Care Board, has issued a stark warning regarding the severity of measles and the importance of vaccination.

Ms Corser said: "If you or your child are not fully vaccinated against measles you can get catch-up jabs at your GP.

"And for school age children, school immunisation teams continue to visit local schools regularly."

She added: "Measles is a serious illness, with one in five children who get the disease having to be admitted to hospital for treatment, so if you or your child have not had your MMR jab, it is vital you come forward."

The threat of measles extends to adults, particularly pregnant women.

Contracting measles during pregnancy can result in stillbirth, miscarriage, and low birth weight.

Consequently, the NHS is advising those who are contemplating starting a family to top up any missed doses as a priority.

The recommended course of the vaccine, trusted to provide lifelong protection, comprises two doses.

With the first dose usually given near a child's first birthday and the second at about three years and four months old, the vaccine can protect around 99 per cent of people against measles and rubella, and roughly 88 per cent against mumps.

There is no cut-off age for catch-ups on missed doses making it never too late for protection.

Findings have shown that one infected child in a classroom could spread the disease to nine other unimmunised children, making measles one of the most contagious diseases globally.

Furthermore, one in five children with measles will require hospital admittance for treatment.

More information about vaccination schedules can be found on the NHS website under the 'NHS vaccinations and when to have them' section.