Urgent warning as thousands of Scots children at risk of brain damage over shortage of vital vaccine
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CHILDREN are at risk of brain damage because of a shortage of measles vaccinations in rural areas, medical experts have warned.
Remote GPs are suffering from 'empty fridge syndrome' with a lack of vaccines to prevent a deadly measles outbreak in their communities.
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Thousands of Scots children at risk of brain damage over shortage of vital vaccine
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There is a lack of vaccines to prevent a deadly measles outbreak
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Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it, according to the NHS
Credit: Getty
The lack of vaccines was described as 'deeply concerning', and one GP leader said he is 'very worried' about the risk of an outbreak.
A child died in Liverpool in recent weeks after contracting measles, believed to be the second child to die from the disease in the UK in the last five years.
Seventeen other children have been treated at Alder Hay Hospital for measles.
Dr Chris Provan, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, confirmed parents are more hesitant to vaccinate children due to online misinformation.
But he said the potentially deadly consequences of measles outweigh the very low risk of an adverse reaction to the vaccine.
He told the BBC society has forgotten how bad measles can be, with complications ranging from brain damage and convulsions to ear infections.
I am very worried about the risk to Scotland. We need to act now
Dr Chris Provan
He said: 'The immunisation rate for measles has gone down to the lowest rate it has been in the last 10 years.
'The antivax movement is a significant part of it, but part of it is really down to barriers to getting the immunisation sometimes.
'Sometimes in remote and rural areas there is less ability to give the vaccine when patients are in the practice for something else.
'There is something called empty fridge syndrome, where GPs in rural areas don't have the vaccine, so they can't give it out to the patients who have travelled for other reasons.'
Mum's warning to all parents after her 'fit and healthy' daughter, 10, died a DECADE after 'mild bout of measles'
He confirmed there have been two deaths in the USA and one in Canada recently.
Some parents remain concerned about discredited claims that the vaccine is linked to autism.
Dr Provan added: 'Science has now shown there is no link to autism or bowel disease, so the risks of the vaccine are very small compared to the risk of measles.
'I am very worried about the risk to Scotland. We need to act now.'
It's deeply concerning that children could be at risk of serious harm because of falling vaccination rates under the SNP
Brian Whittle
He called for a major public health campaign to promote vaccination, particularly in remote areas and deprived communities where vaccine uptake is 10 per cent below the general population.
Peter Barlow, professor of immunology and infection at Edinburgh Napier University, said: 'Measles is so contagious that even a small drop in rates of immunisation can result in outbreaks.
'Entire communities and populations can become infected quite quickly.
"If enough of a community is protected by a vaccine, then it makes it more difficult for the disease to spread.
Symptoms of measles
MEASLES usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.
The first symptoms of measles include: A high temperature
A runny or blocked nose
Sneezing
A cough
Red, sore, watery eyes
Small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips
A rash that starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.
The spots of the measles rash are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches. They're not usually itchy.
The rash looks brown or red on white skin. It may be harder to see on brown and black skin.
Complications of measles
Measles can lead to serious problems if it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain.
Problems that can be caused by measles include: pneumonia
meningitis
blindness
seizures (fits)
These problems are rare, but some people are more at risk. This includes babies and people with weakened immune systems.
Credit: NHS
'Herd immunity is very important for protecting people who might be at greater risk
"Such as those too young to receive a vaccine and individuals who are immunocompromised or undergoing medical treatment for diseases such as cancer.
'Outbreaks can escalate very quickly, especially in communities with clusters of unvaccinated individuals.
Scottish Conservative public health spokesman Brian Whittle said: 'It's deeply concerning that children could be at risk of serious harm because of falling vaccination rates under the SNP.
'The MMR jab is vital because this highly contagious disease can lead to severe complications, but under the nationalists, uptake has dropped to a 10-year low.
'Medics are doing the best, but the SNP needs to ensure that parents are aware of the consequences of not getting their children vaccinated.'
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Scottish Sun
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I've lost 25% of my weight on Mounjaro – here's 4 foods I avoided on fat jabs & the popular pick that made me feel sick
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BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Why are ethnic minority groups falling behind on vaccines?
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The figure was 83.8% for Caribbean or Black people in Scotland and 87.3% in Asian death of a child in Liverpool earlier this month has sparked calls to increase efforts on part of the strategy, Public Health Scotland has introduced a "status check" and an opportunity to catch up on missed MMR doses in secondary to MMR, the HPV, Covid-19 and flu vaccine uptake show trends of lower uptake in minority ethnic Health Scotland data for the last flu vaccine programme shows that uptake varies from 55.2% in the White Scottish group, down to 36.2% in the Arab groups, 34.4% in the Pakistani groups and only 22.6% in the Caribbean groups of eligible adults. Vaccine hesitancy not anti-vax In June, a health inequalities report from Public Health Scotland studied the factors which had affected the uptake of the Covid and Flu vaccines in some ethnic pointed to a lack of trust in organisations promoting the vaccine, not enough information that is culturally and linguistically appropriate, a lack of flexibility in vaccine appointments and perceived harms from vaccines promoted via social Antonia Ho, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Glasgow, tells the BBC it is important to understand that there were many reasons why people don't take up vaccinations - it is not simply a case of them being against vaccination."Vaccine hesitancy shouldn't be conflated with being anti-vax," she Ho says often people who don't take up vaccines have legitimate could include questions such as whether their ethnic group was represented in clinical trials, she research from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) also points to other barriers such as the timing and location of vaccine said: "Research and public health resources are sometimes misdirected by focusing too heavily on vaccine hesitancy, when in fact there are many parents who want to vaccinate but simply can't access services that work for them."The report also acknowledges a "growing disparity in vaccine uptake among some ethnic minority groups, socioeconomically disadvantaged families and migrant communities". Ethnic minorities treated differently Dr Sahira Dar, a GP in Glasgow and president of the British Islamic Medical Association, says it is important not to assign blame to minority ethnic communities. "We know that lower vaccine uptake and challenges to access appropriate health services are interlinked," she Dar says patient experience of healthcare can be more difficult depending on how someone is perceived by healthcare staff."If you are black, brown, or from an ethnic minority or if you are a refugee or a woman wearing a hijab, unfortunately patients from these groups are treated differently," Dr Dar says there is a correlation between these difficulties in healthcare settings and a general mistrust in the an issue that was highlighted in September last year by Scotland's Health Secretary Neil Gray. He acknowledged racism as a "significant public health challenge" and said combatting it was "fundamental" to reducing health inequalities in Scotland. Cultural barriers to healthcare According to Dr Dar, a lack of cultural understanding can be a barrier cites the example of the HPV vaccine, which prevents an infection which is sexually transmitted and is responsible for almost all cases of cervical of the HPV vaccine was reported by ethnicity for the first time in the 2023/2024 school year and it showed the rate was much lower in some ethnic minority first opportunity to get the vaccine is in the first year of secondary school when the White Scottish ethnic group had an uptake of 73.7%.In the same age group, uptake was lower (57.4%) in the Black ethnic group and (53.3%) in the Pakistani ethnic continues to be administered in school until S4, offering opportunities to catch up on coverage. It can also be available further on the some communities there can be stigma attached to conversations about sexual relationships and sexual Dar says some may view getting the HPV vaccine as encouraging Sigi Joseph, a GP in Glasgow, echoes this."Some cultures might think 'well my child isn't going to be having sex', so they might choose not to get the vaccine," she Joseph says understanding of different cultural barriers - such as Muslim women who prefer to be treated by another women for modesty - is vital otherwise it could result in people being turned away from accessing healthcare."If someone's had a stressful or difficult experience, they probably would talk to their friends and family," she says. "How far that filtrates is difficult to know." An overall distrust in 'the system' Dr Josephine Adekola, a senior lecturer specialising in disaster risk management at the University of Glasgow, began investigating the reasons for lower vaccine uptake in Scottish African communities in 2021 during the Covid pandemic - and heard a variety of concerns."A lot of the hesitancy was linked to discriminatory practices and racism," Dr Adekola her study, participants told her about long-running problems, with the immigration sector, schooling, housing, and even insufficient action being taken against workplace discrimination. "The different experiences of policies interrelate with misinformation and disinformation to create so much distrust in this community to make them hesitant," she Adekola says that lack of support and bad experiences with one sector can lead to people grouping separate parts of the government and public bodies together, resulting in an overall distrust in "the system". Misinformation spreads around the world Misinformation about vaccines is a widespread problem Dr Adekola says ethnic minority groups have the extra factor of receiving messages from trusted family members in different countries which contain misinformation or pressure not to get says that during the Covid pandemic she heard misinformation such as the suggestion that Black people were immune to the was also a conspiracy theory that linked getting the vaccine to the "Mark of the Beast" - a Biblical prophecy which says those that aren't "marked" will suffer economically, and those that are will be in allegiance with the is an issue which was also highlighted by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch who grew up in evidence at the UK Covid Inquiry in November 2023, she said there were "lots of conspiracy theories" shared in her own family's WhatsApp group chat and a lack of trust in the government in some communities. The 'ethnicity data gap' Dr Mark Wong, a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and expert in ethnicity data, also believes that racism is the key reason for poorer health outcomes for minority ethnic people and why there is a lower vaccine says people from minority ethnic backgrounds are not taken seriously when in healthcare Wong says they are often dismissed or what they say they are experiencing is not trusted as real."That has led to delays in diagnosis, delays in treatment and sometimes, ultimately, early, unnecessary deaths and health problems," Dr Wong adds that the mistrust minority ethnic people have towards public authorities and the "heightened alertness" in potentially being discriminated against is not fully understood, which results in public health messaging not effectively reaching or convincing minority ethnic communities. Dr Wong says proving the link between lower vaccine uptake and higher deaths in ethnic minority communities during the Covid-19 pandemic had been difficult initially because of a long-standing ethnicity data gap in says there was a "missed opportunity" at the very start of the pandemic to record ethnicity led to experts in Scotland relying on reporting from the rest of the UK which highlighted the disproportionately negative impact on minority ethnic Wong says he had highlighted this in a working group to the Scottish government at the end of 2020, around the same time as the Covid-19 vaccination rollout the recording of ethnicity data only began in November describes having this information documented now as a "turning point" for the quality of ethnicity data for vaccination programmes since response to the BBC's questions on vaccine uptake in ethnic minority groups, a Scottish government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme will continue to focus on increasing uptake of the MMR vaccine, building confidence in communities and reducing health inequalities. "NHS Boards know their communities best and are responsible for local delivery plans which support accessible and timely vaccination for people who may face barriers to uptake."A Public Health Scotland statement said: "Scotland has a very successful vaccination and immunisation programme with high uptake/coverage rates. "However, as seen in other nations, there have been in declines in uptake over time and persistent health inequalities that leave some communities more vulnerable than others."
Daily Record
4 hours ago
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Mum walking 5,000 miles around UK for charity back in Scotland for first time in 9 months
Tracey Howe, of Bearsden, is raising money to support charities who helped her wife, Angela. A heartbroken Scots mum who is walking 5,000 miles to fundraise in memory of her tragic wife has crossed the border into Scotland - as she heads home for the first time in nine months. Tracey Howe, of Bearsden, began her journey in November last year in a bid to raise £100,000 for charities that supported her late wife, Angela, who bravely battled cancer. Tracey and their loved ones first thought Angela's symptoms were 'adjusting to retirement' - or early onset dementia. The 61-year-old began to notice a change in Angela's personality, as did their two sons. They were worried that she was struggling to adjust to retirement or suffering from early onset dementia. But after having a seizure, Angela was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour. After multiple operations, Angela began to return to her old self - but was soon diagnosed with myeloma, an aggressive form of blood cancer. Angela passed away in September 2023, six months after her diagnosis, aged just 58. Now Tracey has is walking 5,000 miles around the UK's coastline to fundraise in her memory. Tracey, from Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, began her journey in November last year. She and Angela, who had spent 37 years together, had planned to take a trip around the British coastline in retirement. But now, Tracey is completing the 5,000 mile journey solo, to raise money for charities that helped Angela in her last months. Tracey said: "Angela and I were together for 37 years. We met in 1986 when I was a physiotherapist, and we were living in the same nurse's accommodation. In the last few years of Angela's life, her personality started to change a bit. "We couldn't quite work out why. We went on holiday and she couldn't remember going - things like that. I think she wasn't really present. Then in November 2022, she had a seizure and they found a brain tumour the size of a tennis ball. They said it must've been growing for about 10 years. Luckily, it was benign. "She had surgery and it was like a complete transformation. We got 'old Angela' back, which really made us realise how much she'd actually changed. But she developed complications and had to go and have more severe surgery. While recovering, she developed myeloma and amyloidosis, two rare forms of blood cancer. "It was the most aggressive form they'd seen and she was given a terminal diagnosis. They said she could live a year, maybe longer, but she just wasn't responding to any of the treatment. We wanted Angela to be at home when she died, and she did too, so we moved her home from hospital. They thought she would only last a few days, but she lasted quite a few weeks. She was tough. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "When Angela was really poorly, I was sat holding her hand for a while. I was listening to audiobooks - one was Wild and the other was called Coasting, about someone who ran around Britain. Angela and I's retirement plan was to buy a motorhome and drive round Britain, so the two things sort of merged together after Angela died. "I bought the motorhome and now I'm walking round Britain." She aims to raise £100,000, which will be split between the Beatson, Marie Curie, Brainstrust, Breast Cancer Now, and CoppaFeel - the latter included after her sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer. Tracey is accompanied by her dog Poppy, and has been travelling in her motorhome, which she has named Priscilla. She believes the trek is allowing her to process her grief, while encouraging her to open up and talk to strangers she encounters on her journey. She said: "It's given me space and time to think. It's allowed me to process my anger about the cancer and everything - I've shouted at the weather. It's been tough. "You've got all these thoughts in your head, but it can be difficult to articulate them. I cry, and I've been able to talk to myself and say all the things out loud. It's quite hard, but when you're on your own and doing all that, it's quite cathartic. Someone said to me that grief is really hard because you've got all this love for someone and nowhere for it to go." While on her journey, Tracey has been handing out crocheted red hearts to strangers - all of which have been crafted by friends, family, and volunteers, including Olympian Tom Daley. She hands out one for each mile she walks, and encourages the receiver to take a moment to think of a loved one they have lost. She said: "I've told my story to people along the way, and I hand out little crochet hearts on the way and tell people that's to remember somebody they've loved and lost. We open up and have a conversation - often people burst into tears and tell me about someone they've lost. I think it's really about sharing the love, and it just felt right to do. I've got 5,000 - one for every mile." Tracey, who has recently been honoured at the Attitude Pride Awards for her fundraising, has just crossed the border into Scotland - on her way home for the first time in months. While the journey hasn't been easy, battling weather, injury, and solitude, Tracey is taking her trip one day at a time - and says the kindness of strangers helps to carry her through. She said: "It's been very varied in terms of the weather and the terrain. I walked south, down the west coast, in the winter - told everybody I was migrating south for the winter. That was quite tough - we had all of those big storms before Christmas, so walking through those was an interesting experience. I've had a few falls and injuries on the way. "It's a mixture - every day is different and every day brings its own challenges and its own memorable pieces. The standout thing has been the kindness of strangers. Kind people have let me stay in their homes, they've fed me, let me have showers, ferried me from one place to another, done my laundry, and just generally been amazing. "I'm about to cross the border into Scotland and it feels like it's been a long time coming - I crossed the border leaving Scotland in November, so this feels like a significant marker." So far, she has raised nearly £40,000 - and has walked 3,275 miles and taken over seven million steps. Tracey said: "All the charities have got a personal meaning. "The Beatson is where Angela received her treatment, and Angela was visited by Marie Curie healthcare assistants during her final nights. It enabled the family to have some rest. The Brainstrust is a small charity that were really helpful. Angela initially had a brain tumour that affected her personality. "At the same time Angela was ill, my sister-in-law developed breast cancer, so the other two charities are Coppafeel and Breast Cancer Now." Tracey still has nearly 2,000 miles left to go - but says she avoids thinking about the finish line, and spends her time trying to soak in every second of her journey. She hopes to reach her fundraising target by November this year - and says Angela, her "biggest cheerleader," would be proud of her achievement. She said: "When I look at the map of where I've walked, it's amazing really. Looking at the progress is crazy. What I've learnt is that there are fabulously generous people out there and we should never forget that. "I'm trying not to think about the finish, and trying to take every day at a time. That's one of the things I've learnt from this trip - to enjoy the moment and the experiences of every day, whether that's being soaking wet from the rain or boiling hot from the sun, just experiencing the scenery and being present in the moment. "Angela was always the biggest cheerleader for everybody - she'd be cheering me on." Richard Lee, Fundraising Director at end of life charity Marie Curie, said: "A massive congratulations to Tracey as she crosses the border and begins her final 2,000-mile stretch of the Scottish coast. "It really is an incredible feat, and we are all cheering her on here at Marie Curie. We're so grateful to have Tracey's support and the money she is raising will go towards helping as many people access the same vital end of life care and support that Tracey's wife Angela received before she died."
