THE number of two-year-olds receiving the MMR jab in Wales is at record levels.
Public Health Wales revealed the news as it said the number of cases in the measles outbreak centred on Swansea had reached 1,171.
The figures are included in a report which shows uptake of all scheduled vaccinations for Welsh children between January and March 2013.
It shows that in two-year-old children, national uptake of the first dose of the MMR vaccine across Wales has now hit the target of 95 per cent – the first time that uptake has passed the 95 per cent mark in this age group.
Meanwhile, average uptake of the second dose of MMR in five-year-old children is at 90 per cent – short of the 95 per cent target but stable compared to the previous quarter.
In Swansea the uptake was 95.3 per cent for two-year-olds and 90.6 per cent for five-year-olds, in Neath Port Talbot the equivalent figures were 95.1 and 89.2, and in Carmarthenshire, 95.5 and 89.7.
The lowest uptake for two-year-olds was 91.9 per cent in Merthyr Tydfil and the lowest for five-year-olds was 85.4 in the Powys Teaching Local Health Board area.
Public Health Wales is now warning parents not to be complacent about the risks of further measles outbreaks.
The organisation said the majority of cases in the measles outbreak centred on the Swansea area are aged between 10 and 18.
Dr Marion Lyons, director of health protection for Public Health Wales, said: "We are delighted to see average uptake of the first dose of MMR passing the 95 per cent target for the first time. It's fantastic to see that parents of younger children are understanding the importance of this vaccine.
"However, vaccination levels in the generation of children and young people between 10 and 18 is still too low. While uptake remains lower than 95 per cent in some parts of Wales, there is always the risk of measles outbreaks.
"We continue to urge parents to ensure their children are vaccinated at 12 months of age or as soon as possible afterwards.
"It's important to remember that this report is only showing us a 95 per cent uptake of MMR in two-year-olds who reached their second birthday in the first three months of this year. This does not mean we have reached the 95 per cent target for all age groups and this is why we have been able to experience a large measles outbreak in the 10 to 18 age group despite rising MMR uptake in much younger children.
"Our message remains that anyone born after 1970 who has not had measles or received both doses of MMR should catch up at the earliest opportunity."
The report also shows that uptake of all scheduled vaccinations for children aged less than one year exceeded the 95 per cent target, and that 83 per cent of Welsh children had received all their routine vaccinations by the age of four.
There has been one death in Swansea linked to the measles outbreak.
Gareth Colfer-Williams, was suffering from measles before the 25-year-old was found dead on April 18, at his Port Tennant home.
An inquest which will aim to determine the cause of his death has been opened and adjourned.
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