Hundreds of people attended an MMR vaccination clinic in Ystrad Mynach on Saturday over fears the measles epidemic in Swansea could spread across South Wales.
Held at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr by Aneurin Bevan Health Board, 563 people were immunised following confirmation that cases now number 693 in the Swansea area.
Another MMR clinic in Newport attracted 252 people.
The Swansea outbreak has now been classified as an epidemic by health officials.
Aneurin Bevan Health Board has said that 34 cases of measles have been reported in its area between January and April.
Public Health Wales figures have revealed that 9,000 children aged five to 18 are not fully protected against measles in the Aneurin Bevan Health Board area.
People who have had two doses of the MMR will be 99% protected against the disease.
An extremely contagious virus, Measles can lead to serious complications and in rare cases can be fatal.
The health board has said it is keen to vaccinate people in the 16 to 25 age group and that it is crucial they are vaccinated before exams.
Caerphilly County Borough Council issued public health guidance to all schools in the area last week.
It read: “You may be aware that there is a very serious outbreak of measles affecting the Swansea area and that it is spreading across South Wales. The illness has been spreading very quickly through schools as many of the pupils have not been protected by having two Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations. There have been at least 60 admissions to hospital during this outbreak as a result of their measles infection so far.
“We are now starting to see a few cases of measles locally.
“The best way to get protected from measles is by vaccination. If your child/teenager has not had two MMR vaccinations you should contact your GP, health visitor or practice nurse now to arrange for them to be protected. This action on your part is essential to prevent a possible school outbreak.”
Typical symptoms of measles include fever, cough, conjunctivitis and a rash.
Complications are quite common even in healthy people, and about 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complications.
This oubreak seems connected to the thoughts of Andrew Wakefield, the unfrocked doctor now working in Texas. More relevent though is the point that originally it seemed confined to the circulation area of a particular newspaper, which presumuably gave some circulation to his ideas. Why is this hardly ever referred to? I write this as a retired journalist.