PARENTS are being advised to get their children vaccinated for a second time against MMR.

Bromley Primary Care Trust, which runs health services across the borough, is trying to increase the number of children who receive a second vaccination against MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) before they start school.

Usually children get their first MMR jab at the age of 12 to 15 months before receiving a pre-school booster jab when they reach the age of four.

The PCT estimates only half of all children in Bromley get a second vaccination.

The Health Protection Agency, which works to protect people from infectious diseases, is recommending parents have their children revaccinated one to three months after the first vaccination.

A spokesman for Bromley PCT said: "We are particularly concerned that the second vaccination which children get before they begin school is much lower - children need two doses of MMR if they are to be fully protected against these dangerous diseases."

He added: "The only way to reduce the impact of outbreaks is to ensure the uptake of the MMR vaccine increases.

"Bromley PCT is looking at the uptake of MMR vaccine in the borough, identifying GP practices where it is low, and targeting our action in those areas.

"We have also sent out good practice guidelines to all practices encouraging them to revaccinate after three months gap."

There have been more than 200 cases in south east London so far this year, with 18 recorded in Bromley.

Although Bromley PCT expects there have been further cases where parents have not told their GP.

Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at south east London Health Protection Agency, Diana McInnes, said: "The increase in measles cases is of concern and we know that large numbers of children are still not fully protected.

"In south east London we are encouraging parents to give the second MMR between one to three months after the first dose to protect their children.

"Children's immune systems have a huge capacity and overloading them with the vaccination is not an issue.

"Our main focus is to remind people that they need two doses of the MMR vaccine to be fully protected."