UPTAKE of first dose measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for two-year-olds in Gwent topped the target 95 per cent during the first quarter of 2016.

Immunisation figures for Wales for January-March - the latest published by Public Health Wales - show that 95.4 per cent of eligible two-year-olds received MMR1 that quarter.

The target is 95 per cent, which experts consider to be the consistent level required to minimise the chances of an outbreak.

Uptake of MMR1 has generally been higher across Wales since an outbreak centred on Swansea from late 2012-mid 2013 - the biggest in the UK in 10 years - resulted in more than 1,200 cases, one death, and 88 hospitalisations.

The all-Wales MMR uptake rate for January-March was 95.7 per cent. In Gwent, uptake ranged from close to 97 per cent in Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly, to 93 per cent in Monmouthshire.

Uptake of second dose MMR however, was lower in Gwent, and in Wales as a whole.

For Gwent, the rate was 90.8 per cent and across Wales it was 91.4 per cent, and again the aim is to achieve a minimum 95 per cent uptake.

Achieving that minimum rate is considered vital for both MMR1 and MMR2 so children are fully protected as they embark on their school years.

The main target group in 2012/13, as a Wales-wide drive to protect children and young people against measles was launched amid the outbreak, was teenagers.

Uptake of MMR1 among 16-year-olds in Gwent during January-March was 95.2 per cent, but for MMR2 it was just 89.1 per cent.

The former was slightly above the all-Wales average, but the latter was at the same level as that for Wales.

That means that dozens of young people who did not receive adequate protection against measles, mumps and rubella as children are also missing out on protection as teenagers.