Thousands still haven't had their measles jab
More than 33,000 children and young people in Wales have still not been vaccinated against measles despite an outbreak which has hit parts of Shropshire and Mid Wales.
The last planned drop-in clinics were held on Saturday for people in Powys to be immunised against the condition, with 99 people in Powys confirmed to have been affected, with a further 41 suspected in Shropshire.
Public Health Wales said the clinics, held in Newtown and Brecon, saw dozens of people receiving the jab.
It said more than 33,000 children and young people aged 10 to 18 have still not been immunised in Wales - with 3,000 of those in Mid Wales – but over 60,000 measles vaccinations have now been given.
The number of cases in the outbreak has reached 1,136 since November 2012. There were only 19 measles cases in Wales in the whole of 2011.
A spokeswoman for Public Health Wales said: "Vaccination sessions held in all secondary schools and some primary schools across Wales ended on Friday and 8,618 people had been vaccinated at these sessions.
"In Powys, two drop-in sessions were held on Saturday at the outpatients departments of Brecon and Newtown hospitals."
Dr Meirion Evans added: "I think the speed at which the numbers have dropped is a reflection on the fact so many children have been immunised. We're pleased with the uptake of the MMR vaccine and the impact that's had on numbers of measles cases.
"We have half term week this week which will help things along because of course there's less contact between children in school holiday."
Bosses at Public Health England West Midlands said from January to May 2 there have been 35 suspected cases of measles in Shropshire and six diagnosed cases in the county. They say therefore the total number of reported cases for Shropshire as of May 2 was 41. Five out of the six confirmed cases were reported in Oswestry. Eighteen out of the 35 suspected cases were also reported in Oswestry.
Sumina Azam, director of public health for Powys Teaching Health Board, added: "If you think that your children may have missed one or both of the routine vaccinations, at one and three years old, it is not too late to get them protected."
