THE percentage of young children in the Bradford district having the MMR vaccine is continuing to fall, councillors have been told.

At the latest meeting of Bradford Council’s health and social care scrutiny committee, members heard that the take-up of the MMR jab was among a number of public health indicators which saw the district “significantly worse” than where it needed to be.

Latest figures show that just under 90 per cent of children below the age of two have had the jab, which is down from 94.6 per cent.

Duncan Cooper, a public health consultant, said the low rate made measles outbreaks more likely.

He added: “We’ve heard how we have to get the R level down to below one to reduce the spread of Covid.

“By comparison, the R level for measles is 14. That means if one person has it they on average will pass it on to 14 other children.”

For further information about the MMR vaccine, visit nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine.