Millions of Parents Urged to Vaccinate Children as Measles Cases Rise in England
In a bid to combat the rising number of measles cases across England, the National Health Service (NHS) is reaching out to millions of parents, urging them to have their children vaccinated. According to NHS England, over 3.4 million children under the age of 16 are currently unprotected and at risk of falling ill. The campaign will initially focus on areas with low uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, such as the West Midlands and London.
Last winter, a similar campaign resulted in a 10% increase in vaccinations. Health officials in the UK have expressed concerns that the outbreak of highly contagious measles in the West Midlands could quickly spread to other towns and cities with low vaccination rates. Dame Jenny Harries has called for a nationwide “call to action” after hospitals in Birmingham reported a sharp rise in cases among children.
The MMR vaccine is administered in two doses, with the first given around the age of one and the second around three years and four months old. While the vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles, only 85% of children starting primary school in the UK have received both doses, falling well below the target of 95% needed to halt the spread of the disease. In cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Nottingham, only 75% of five-year-olds are fully vaccinated, according to NHS figures.
As part of the current campaign, more than four million parents, carers, and young adults will be contacted via text, email, or letter to inform them that they or their children have missed one or both doses of the vaccine. This includes over one million children aged six to 11 across England, as well as 330,000 11 to 16-year-olds and nearly one million 16 to 26-year-olds in London and the West Midlands. Many young adults who were children during the false link between the MMR vaccine and autism 25 years ago remain unvaccinated.
NHS England’s director of vaccinations and screening, Steve Russell, emphasized the urgency with which the NHS is addressing the measles outbreak. “People who are unvaccinated can get catch-up jabs at MMR pop-ups in schools and other convenient places, while GPs, teachers, and trusted community leaders are encouraging groups that are less likely to get their jab to come forward,” he stated.
Babies too young to receive their first dose, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk from measles. In Birmingham, one in five children with the disease requires hospitalization. Measles can have serious consequences at any age, including stillbirth, miscarriage, and low birth weight during pregnancy. Therefore, NHS England is also urging young adults to catch up on missed doses.
The decline in childhood vaccinations can be attributed to various factors, and experts caution against solely blaming anti-vaccine sentiments. With the NHS facing immense pressure, parents often struggle to reach their general practitioners (GPs) and speak to the appropriate staff to address any concerns they may have about the vaccine. Additionally, scheduling a convenient appointment for their child during a busy workday can pose a challenge. To overcome these barriers, headteachers in certain areas are collaborating with the NHS to establish clinics in schools.
Dr. David Elliman, a community pediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital, believes it is crucial to give parents the opportunity to have their questions answered by trusted healthcare professionals. “There are very few parents who do not want their children immunized,” he asserts. However, some individuals refrained from visiting health centers during the pandemic due to fears of contracting COVID-19. Furthermore, many parents have never witnessed measles firsthand since it was nearly eradicated in the UK a few years ago. This lack of exposure has led to a diminished awareness of the dangers posed by the disease.
Measles can be fatal, with a mortality rate ranging from one in 1,000 to one in 5,000 cases. The concern now is that there could be dozens of preventable deaths from this easily preventable disease. Unfortunately, there are still individuals who believe the debunked claims linking the MMR vaccine to autism, perpetuated by a study conducted 25 years ago. Health officials express alarm that these myths have become deeply ingrained in certain communities. Consequently, thousands of young adults in their twenties, born shortly after the publication of the discredited study, missed out on vaccinations due to their parents’ concerns at the time.
The current campaign aims to address these issues and ensure that children and young adults across England receive the necessary protection against measles. By reaching out to parents, carers, and individuals directly, the NHS hopes to increase vaccination rates and prevent further outbreaks of this highly contagious disease. It is a collective effort that requires collaboration between healthcare professionals, educators, community leaders, and parents to
