North London measles outbreak could see unvaccinated pupils barred from school
Parents in north London have been warned that children not fully immunised against measles may be excluded from school for up to 21 days if they are deemed close contacts of confirmed cases. The measure comes as dozens of children in the borough have contracted the highly contagious virus and some have required hospital treatment.
Unvaccinated close contacts face 21-day exclusions
Local authorities issued letters to families in late January (ET) advising that national guidance allows for exclusion of unvaccinated pupils who are close contacts of measles cases for 21 days. The move is intended to interrupt chains of transmission in settings where the virus spreads quickly, particularly schools and nurseries.
Health teams and general practices in the area have confirmed infections across multiple schools and early years settings. Officials have described an unusually concentrated cluster of illness for the locality, with hospital admissions among children who were not fully immunised.
The typical symptoms — fever, cough and a blotchy rash — can progress to more serious complications such as pneumonia or encephalitis in a small proportion of cases, a risk that is higher in unimmunised children.
Low vaccine coverage intensifies concerns and spurs catch-up effort
Vaccine coverage in parts of the borough remains well below the level needed to prevent outbreaks. Only around two-thirds of five-year-olds in the area have received both recommended doses of the measles-containing vaccine, leaving sizable pockets of susceptibility in school-aged cohorts.
Health teams have been running catch-up clinics in community venues to offer missing doses to children who either received one dose or none at all. Officials are urging families to check immunisation records for children and adults and to book catch-up appointments where necessary.
Public health leaders say that targeted vaccination sessions in schools, nurseries and community centres are central to containing the current cluster, while also reducing pressure on local hospitals and preventing further spread to vulnerable groups.
Calls for system changes as outbreaks become more frequent
The local outbreak has reignited debate over how childhood vaccination services are organised. Some clinicians and campaigners argue the current delivery model — which relies heavily on GP practices and school-based sessions — has not halted a long-term decline in uptake and that expanding where jabs are available could make it easier for families to access them.
Suggestions include widening the range of venues authorised to administer childhood vaccinations, simplifying follow-up for missed appointments, and increasing outreach in communities with low coverage. Advocates say such changes would help reduce the chance of repeat outbreaks and lower the risk of severe disease among unprotected children.
Health teams stress that measles remains preventable with two doses of the combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and that booster or catch-up doses are effective at restoring protection for those who missed routine appointments.
As local services work to contain transmission, public health officials reiterate that checking vaccination status and ensuring timely immunisation are the most effective steps families can take to protect children and their communities from measles.
