Measles: Half a million UK children missed jab

Analysis by the children’s charity, Unicef, reveals that more than half a million children in the UK alone were not given a crucial measles jab between 2010 and 2017.

Globally, the report shows, 169 million children were not given a first dose of measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017.

Prof Beate Kampmann, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, described the figures as a “wake-up call.”

She said: “One thing is certain though: A single person with measles will be able to infect 90 other people who are not immune.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications in some people. These include infections of the lungs (pneumonia) and brain (encephalitis).

Anyone can get measles if they haven’t been vaccinated or haven’t had it before, although it’s most common in young children.

Measles symptoms:

•     cold-like symptoms – runny nose, sneezing
•     signs the body is fighting infection – high fever, tiredness, muscle aches
•     red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
•     greyish spots in the mouth
•     red, raised spots that may merge together becoming blotchy, starting around the hairline two to four days after the initial symptoms, then spreading down over the head, neck and rest of the body

The NHS recommends all children receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This is given in 2 doses as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.

The first dose is given when your child is around 13 months old, and a second dose is given at 3 years and 4 months.

Public Health England (PHE) said there had been 47 cases across Greater Manchester in 2019, compared to only three cases in 2018 and seven in 2017.

Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens has warned that measles cases had almost quadrupled in England in just one year and urged families to get the vaccine. He said people rejecting vaccines was a “growing public health time bomb”.

Henrietta Fore, executive director at Unicef, said: “The measles virus will always find unvaccinated children and the only way to prevent that is through vaccination.”

Loveness Chihoyi, Trainee Legal Executive in the Medical Negligence team at Ashtons Legal, comments:

‘The figures are shocking and it is imperative that we protect children and communities against this preventable contagious disease. The consequences of failing to adhere to medical advice can lead to potentially very serious implications not only for the unvaccinated children but the entire community. We are often approached by clients who have incorrect information about the risks and benefits of immunisation and it is essential that patients are given the correct information to make an informed choice about their healthcare.’