Although the Government does not offer single vaccinations to protect against the measles, mumps and rubella diseases, there are hundreds of parents of young children who prefer that their child be given single injections to protect them.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection that’s caused by a virus. It causes a total body skin rash and flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough, and runny nose and although the vast majority of children recover quickly from measles with no lasting effects, a small number will experience complications which last into later life.

Mumps is one of the more common childhood illnesses, it is the disease with the longest incubation period and can take as long as three weeks from infection to outbreak, which can make it difficult to track down the source of infection. The virus is contagious for about two to three days before and up to seven to eight days after the disease breaks out.

Rubella, commonly referred to as German measles, is an infection that primarily affects the skin and lymph nodes; it can also pass through a pregnant woman’s bloodstream to infect her unborn child, with potentially devastating consequences for the developing foetus.

To prevent a child contracting these infections, vaccination is the answer, for those who prefer not to go down the MMR combined vaccine route, parents can access an MMR singles vaccine London clinic where the protection can be provided.