Almost 1million young people urgently need life-saving measles jabs as cases continue to rise, NHS warns...

NEARLY a million 19 to 25-year-olds need a measles jab, the NHS warns.

Cases of the once-eliminated virus are on the rise, with at least 733 recorded in England since October.

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Health chiefs are now appealing to more than 900,000 students and young workers in London, Manchester and the West Midlands to get fully vaccinated.

While these are the highest risk areas, there are many more nationwide where people have not had both jabs.

The most severe cases so far have affected young children but adults can still get seriously ill and catch and spread the bug.

With cases rising it is not worth the risk of being unprotected

Steve RussellNHS England

People need two doses of the MMR measles, mumps and rubella vaccine but many have only had one or none.

Steve Russell, vaccines chief at NHS England, said: “Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world and can cause serious harm to adults and children of all ages.

“The NHS MMR vaccine gives life-long protection against becoming seriously unwell.

“With cases on the rise, it is not worth the risk of going without this vital protection.”

The plea follows a call for more than a million primary school kids and 200,000 teens aged 16 to 19 in high-risk areas to get up to date with the jabs.

The NHS estimates that more than three million under-16s, plus more adults, are not fully protected.

Symptoms start like a cold plus blotchy rash

Vaccines for those who haven't had both doses are free for all ages from GP surgeries and catch-up programmes are offering them at schools, universities, libraries and sports centres in some areas.

Symptoms of measles start off like a cold but can then include a fever, white spots in the mouth and a blotchy rash.

Very serious cases can cause brain damage, blindness, deafness or even death.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Anyone who is not vaccinated against measles can catch it. 

“Being unvaccinated also means you risk spreading the disease to others, including those at greatest risk like infants, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.”