BABIES and toddlers could be high risk from an epidemic that health experts fear could be about to break in Enfield.

Just 55 per cent of five year olds in the area are fully protected against measles, mumps and rubella by the MMR jab.

This is well below the rate of 95 per cent which the World Health Organisation says is required to prevent an outbreak of diseases that are deadly to the very young and vulnerable people.

It means babies under the age of one who are too young for the jab are at risk of catching potentially fatal diseases from their un-protected elder siblings.

The NHS issued the epidemic warning this week as it launched a borough-wide drive to get more youngsters inoculated.

This is despite only six recorded cases in Enfield last year.

The head of public health, Dr Ugo Okoli said: “I encourage all parents to make sure their children have had all their routine vaccinations to protect their family and our communities.”

Take-up is believed to be low because of contraversary over the MMR jab, which was linked to autism in youngsters. The claim has since been discredited.

Mum of three, Graziella Kankowski lives in Derwent Road, Palmers Green. She thought long and hard before she got her children protected but is glad she did.

She said: “Measles is such nasty illness. It can kill children, so I urge parents to vaccinate their kids because the consequences of not doing so are dreadful.”

Dr Ugo Okoli spelled out the dangers of the diseases which the MMR jabs protect against.

He said: “Measles is highly infectious so can spread easily amongst unvaccinated children. If your child does become ill with measles, it can be very serious and cause severe complications but the MMR vaccine makes it a preventable disease.

“Rubella is an equally serious risk for pregnant women as their children could be born with severe disabilities. I would encourage all parents to make sure their children have had all their routine vaccinations to protect their family and our local communities.”

The MMR vaccination is administered in two doses, one when a child is between 12 and 15 months old, and the second at five years old.

For further information about measles and MMR vaccine, visit: www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk and www.immunisation.nhs.uk