Mumps jabs may run out in Ireland

GPs in Northern Ireland are warning that following a mumps outbreak among teenagers and young adults, supplies of the MMR vaccine in Northern Ireland could be running out. Family doctors have been asked to return any unused supplies so these can be re-distributed.

This is the worst outbreak of mumps since records began in the province 15 years ago and has affected mainly young people.

Mumps is a viral infection that is transmitted through airborne droplets from the coughs and sneezes of infected people.

GP Martin Cunningham said he worried that after about a week, his practice would run out of stock of the vaccine.

Doctors in the university area of Belfast have been running special vaccination clinics for students.

Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Henrietta Campbell, wrote to health professionals in February to remind them of the importance of ensuring young people up to the age of 23 are protected. She said most of those affected were in their late teens and were believed to have only had one dose of a mumps-containing vaccine, like MMR, when two doses were needed to ensure protection.