THE proportion of five-year-olds having both MMR jabs across Dorset is below target despite an increase last year.

The latest Public Health England figures for 2017-18 show that 90.6 per cent of five-year-olds in Bournemouth, 93.7 per cent in Dorset county and 94.4 per cent in Poole had received both MMR jabs before their fifth birthday.

Though the figures are up from 88.2 per cent, 93.1 per cent and 91 per cent the previous year respectively, they mean there area still hundreds of children unprotected against highly-contagious measles.

The target, set by the World Health Organisation, is 95 per cent coverage.

Experts have said that the uptake across England, where 87.2 per cent of five-year-olds have had both jabs, is "worryingly low".

British Society for Immunology chief executive Doug Brown said: "One in 10 people unprotected simply just isn't good enough."

This year there have been 876 confirmed cases of measles in England, more than three times the number recorded in the whole of 2017.

Although measles is now more common in teenagers and young adults, Dr Brown said it's more important than ever to make sure young children are fully protected.

"If we are in a position of increased outbreaks, low immunisation is even more worrying," he said.

"Vaccination is one of the few miracles of modern medicine. It is one of the safest and most cost-effective methods we have to prevent the spread of disease."

The MMR jab is a 3-in-1 vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. It is given to young children in two doses – the first at 12 months, and the second around three years.

Both the society and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have expressed concerns about children getting the first jab but not the second.

One in 10 children will not be protected against measles after the first dose alone. After the second, that falls to one in a hundred.

Across Dorset more than 300 children only got the first dose, records show, receiving only partial protection.

College immunisation expert David Elliman said: "The best solution is GPs sending regular reminders to parents, and all GPs should make sure they have an efficient reminder system in place."

Dr Elliman said anyone who has missed the MMR vaccine can still get it for free from their GP.

"Even healthy children can get nasty measles and die from it," he said.

"A third of measles cases will end up in the hospital."