VACCINATION numbers for children against measles in Wiltshire is below standards across the South West.

Currently 95.1 per cent, or 5,582 children aged five have been given the MMR jab at least once by the time they were  one and 89.1 per cent had a second jab aged three. Swindon (96 per cent) BaNES (96.1 per cent) and Gloucestershire (95.6 per cent) reported higher figures than Wiltshire for vaccinating children. However the figure is above England averages.

Around 5000 children have not yet been fully immunised in the South west.

The World Health Organisation recently confirmed that measles is no longer eliminated in England , with outbreaks seen in the South West in the past year.

Tracy Daszkiewicz, Wiltshire Council director of public health, said:"We cannot stress the importance of vaccinations strongly enough, particularly for such devastating diseases which can be prevented. I would encourage all parents and carers in Wiltshire to make sure their children are protected."

Dr Julie Yates, of lead consultant for screening and immunisation for Public Health England South West, wants all parents to check that their child is fully vaccinated and said: “It’s crucial that children have maximum protection as they begin to mix with other children at the start of their school journey.” Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that causes a red rash and high fever.

One in 20 children measles go on to develop pneumonia.