Health authorities appealed to parents today to have their children vaccinated against measles after figures showed the number of cases of measles has soared more than tenfold.
"There were nearly 1,600 reported measles cases last year compared to less than 150 in 1999," a Department of Health spokesman said.
"The figures are a consequence of insufficient immunisation uptake where, over time, a pool of unimmunised children builds up who are then susceptible to the infection."
About 1,250 of the measles cases last year were reported in the country's Eastern Regional Health Authority area which covers Dublin.
The vaccination target is 95 per cent of children but in parts of the country the figure has dropped as low as 73 per cent.
Parents are reluctant to have children vaccinated amid concerns about possible side effects.
The Health Department has now instructed local authorities to target "black spots" and vulnerable groups and doctors have been asked to make special efforts to promote vaccination to parents.
This follows a British government warning yesterday that children in the UK returning for the new school term are at risk from a potentially fatal measles outbreak because of the health fears surrounding the MMR vaccine which has led to a decrease in the number of vaccinations in the UK.
There have been fears that the MMR vaccine could be linked to autism and other problems.
But Dr Liam Lynch, President of the Irish Medical Organisation said the best evidence available shows that it is far better to get vaccinated with MMR than to contract measles.
"The side effects of measles can be quite horrific. It is much safer to be vaccinated, " he said.
Dr Lynch stressed that more resources were needed for the vaccination programme and that more accurate reporting on cases of measles were needed.
Additional reporting AFP