A mother whose baby experienced severe breathing difficulties due to measles is calling on parents to vaccinate their children. This plea comes as health officials caution about a possible increase in measles cases with the new school year approaching.
In the past year, the UK witnessed a significant measles outbreak, originating in the West Midlands and spreading across the entire country. Globally, measles cases soared to 321,582 in 2023, marking an 88% rise from the previous year’s total of 171,153 cases.
Davina Barrett, from Walsall, shared her distressing experience with her three-month-old son, Ezra. She described how his condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to severe breathing issues and the need for oxygen. “The rash spread quickly across his body, and seeing him struggle to breathe was heartbreaking,” Barrett said. “I had no idea measles could be so severe for babies.”
Barrett is urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated, emphasizing that the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine not only protects individual children but also helps safeguard those too young to be vaccinated themselves. “Measles can be severe, but it is entirely preventable,” she added.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and NHS England are launching a six-week campaign to boost vaccination rates. The campaign targets measles, whooping cough, meningitis, diphtheria, and polio. Officials are concerned about low uptake of the MMR vaccine in certain areas of England.
Dr. Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, emphasized the preventability of these diseases. “As both a mother and a doctor, it is tragic to see children suffer from diseases that are easily preventable,” she said. “Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer the best protection against measles. Without vaccination, children face serious illness and potential long-term complications.”
UKHSA data reveals 2,278 confirmed measles cases in England from the start of 2024 through August 5. During the four weeks leading up to this date, 153 cases were reported, with the majority in London. The NHS administered 180,000 additional MMR doses in the past year, including over 51,000 doses to children aged five or under. Additionally, more than 13% of previously unvaccinated children under five received their first dose during this period, with a 4.9% increase in the uptake of the second dose among Black, Caribbean, or African children aged three to five.
