AVOIDABLE TRAGEDY
‘More than 10,000 children at risk of brain-swelling disease’ if MMR vaccine uptake ‘does not improve’ an expert warns
Scroll down to find out everything you need to know about the MMR jab
THOUSANDS of British children are at risk of contracting a fatal brain-swelling virus, an expert has warned.
Dr Ava Easton of Encephalitis International said among the 3.4 million children in the UK who were unprotected or not fully vaccinated against measles, around 10,000 new cases of encephalitis could emerge.
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England is facing a measles emergency, with infection rates in some parts of the country higher than they have been since the 1990s.
“The surge in cases, which is due to decreasing levels of MMR vaccine uptake, is deeply alarming," Dr Ava said.
"Unless this trend is reversed, we will see many more children at risk of encephalitis – a complication of measles which cuts young lives short and can cause brain injuries.
"No parent would want to knowingly expose their child to that."
Read more on Encephalitis
There were 86 confirmed measles cases over the past week, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
It brings the total number of measles cases recorded so far this year to almost 900 - a sharp increase from 368 cases in all of 2023.
Encephalitis is a rare complication of measles that happens when the virus enters the brain.
The body tries to fight the infection, which leads to inflammation and swelling of the brain.
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It is not acceptable that in the 21st century, we have children dying or living with long-term disability due to encephalitis caused by the measles infection
Professor Benedict Michael
Typical encephalitis symptoms include confusion and seizures. These usually come on when the classic measles rash emerges.
"Up to three in every 1000 of those infected with measles would be vulnerable to encephalitis," Dr Ava told The Sun.
"That means over 10,000 children could develop the brain inflammation condition unless MMR uptake improves.
"This would be a totally avoidable tragedy.”
Gail Peters, from Stoke-on-Trent, shared how her daughter Stephanie passed away at age 27, from a rare and slow-progressing form of encephalitis called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) that strikes sufferers years after they were first infected with measles.
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Up to 15 per cent of children who develop encephalitis will die.
For those who survive, up to a quarter (25 per cent) will be left with permanent brain damage.
And one in 25,000 children with measles will develop SSPE, which almost always leads to death.
'Urgent action is needed'
Professor Benedict Michael, from the University of Liverpool, added: “It is not acceptable that in the 21st century, we have children dying or living with long-term disability due to encephalitis caused by the measles infection, which is completely preventable with vaccination.
"This is particularly troubling as three million plus children are now unvaccinated against measles.
"Urgent action is needed to ensure children get vaccinated now”.
While measles usually triggers cold-like symptoms, other complications include blindness, pneumonia and meningitis.
The bug has no specific treatment, but it can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jab.
Unvaccinated children who come into contact with measles are currently being advised to stay at home for 21 days.
This is because measles is very contagious, with a patient typically passing the viral infection on to 20 others.
It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces.
To keep measles at bay, 95 per cent of children must be vaccinated.
However, vaccine coverage is the lowest it has been for more than a decade, with just 85 per cent of youngsters having both doses of the jab before they start school aged five.
Encephalitis symptoms to know
Encephalitis can occur in children either during or after a measles infection
It usually comes on during the rash phase of measles or several years later in the form of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).
Symptoms include:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Seizures or fits
- Changes in personality and behaviour
- Difficulty speaking
- Weakness or loss of movement in some parts of the body
- Seeing and hearing things that are not there
- Loss of feeling in certain parts of the body
- Uncontrollable eye movements, such as side-to-side eye movement
- Eyesight problems
- Loss of consciousness
It's important to act fast if your symptoms become more serious.
You should dial 999 immediately to request an ambulance if you or a loved one has symptoms (even if they don't also have measles).
For more information on Encephalitis, go to the Encephalitis International website.
Source: NHS
How can I look after a child with measles?
While most measles sufferers recover, it can be very unpleasant to endure, especially for youngsters.
It can, however, usually be treated at home and will pass within a week to 10 days.
The NHS says it can help your child to:
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve a high temperature – but do not give aspirin to children under 16 years
- Have crusts from their eyes gently removed with cotton wool soaked in warm water
Children should stay off nursery or school for at least four days after the rash appears.
How can I stop my child catching measles?
The best way to protect your child from measles, for which there is no treatment or cure, is by getting them vaccinated against it.
This means two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
It's typically given to babies and young tots through the NHS vaccination schedule.
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The first dose can be administered when your child is one and the second when they're three years and four months.
If your child has missed these jabs, you can still ask your GP surgery to give them.
Expert answers MMR questions
TO help deal with parental concerns, Professor Helen Bedford, a specialist in child public health at University College London, tells you all you need to know about the MMR vaccine.
When is the vaccine given?
The MMR vaccine is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme.
It’s typically given via a single shot into the muscle of the thigh or the upper arm.
The first dose is offered to children at the age of one (babies younger than this may have some protection from antibodies passed on from their mother, which start to wear off at about 12 months.)
The second dose is then offered to children aged three years and four months before they start school.
To check to see if you or your child have had the recommended two doses of MMR, you can look at their/your Personal Child Health Record, also known as the red book.
If you can’t find the red book, call your GP and ask them for your vaccine records.
You are never too old to catch up with your MMR vaccine.
If you see from your vaccination records that you did not receive two doses as a child, you can book a vaccination appointment.
Is the vaccine safe?
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective at preventing measles, mumps and rubella.
In the UK, we started using the jab in 1988, so we have decades of experience using it.
The jab is made from much-weakened live versions of the three viruses.
This triggers the immune system to produce antibodies that are protective in the face of future exposure.
It takes up to three weeks after having the vaccine to be fully protected.
Like any vaccine, the MMR jab can cause side-effects, which are usually mild and go away very quickly.
This includes rash, high temperature, loss of appetite and a general feeling of being unwell for about two or three days.
There is also a very small chance children can have a severe allergic reaction.
But compared to the complications of measles, there is no contest that vaccination is by far the safest and most effective route to take.
Why was it linked with autism?
In 1998, Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues published a now-discredited paper in medical journal The Lancet.
The paper suggested that the MMR vaccine might be associated with autism and a form of bowel disease.
It led to a sharp decline in vaccination rates.
Even at the time, the research was considered poor.
The Lancet retracted the story in 2010 after Wakefield’s article was found “dishonest” by the General Medical Council.
He was later struck off and subsequently, in 2011, the British Medical Journal declared the story fraudulent.
Does it contain ingredients from pigs?
There are two types of MMR jabs: One with gelatin (animal/pig collagen), and one without it.
For some religious groups, the inclusion of pig products is not acceptable.
Those people should ask for the vaccine without gelatin