London mum urges people to get vaccinated after baby hospitalised with measles

Yahoo

6 days ago

A mum whose baby was hospitalised with measles is urging parents to get their kids vaccinated - after a child reportedly contracted the disease and died over the weekend.
Mum Georgia House, 29, has joined the calls, after she spent five days in London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital last year with then five-month-old Margot.
The youngster, who had a cold, a cough, and a red blotchy rash, was too young at the time to be vaccinated.
The infant had to be connected to oxygen and feeding tubes to help her fight the virus, and at one point, her oxygen levels were "frighteningly low".
Baby Margot spent five days in hospital. (Image: SWNS)
Little Margot caught the virus while she was being treated at Chelsea and Westminster in early April 2024 - for a completely separate allergic reaction.
Georgia, from Clapham, southwest London, is now urging parents to vaccinate their children as the UK records a dramatic increase in the number of measles infections.
There have been 500 cases of measles this year in England alone, with the rise blamed on the falling uptake of the MMR vaccine.
Margot is now vaccinated against the disease.
Georgia, head of revenue at a tech company, said: 'I was so nervous when we arrived at the hospital as she was really, really poorly.
'But we did feel like we were in safe hands.
Georgia is calling for others to get vaccinated to help stop the spread of measles. (Image: SWNS)
'Our doctor told us that while it would be horrible for Margot, she would be okay.
'But it was still heartbreaking to see someone so small hooked up to all those machines.'
At just five months old at the time, Margot was too young to be vaccinated.
However, the option is available for all those over the age of one.
'It's so frustrating because this is all so preventable,' Georgia said.
'The reason we've got this spike is because of a drop in people getting vaccinated.
'The UK has lost its herd immunity.
At first, they thought Margot had a cold. (Image: SWNS)
'People who aren't vaccinated are risking the lives of these little ones – and the lives of vulnerable, immunocompromised people.'
Georgia and her husband James first noticed their baby girl was unwell when she developed a cough and a cold, and later a rash.
But when they took Margot to two separate GPs, both dismissed it as either a typical cold or another allergic reaction to nuts - for which she'd been to hospital for on April 2.
However, the family received a letter saying Margot had been exposed to measles during that visit and so they rushed her back to Chelsea and Westminster, on April 17.
Georgia and James discovered Margot was the fourth paediatric case that day, they say.
'The sentiment at the hospital was definitely one of anger,' Georgia said.
'Doctors were telling me that people just don't seem to understand how serious measles is.
'And people avoiding vaccinations has been devastating because we used to not have any cases in the UK.
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'I don't know if people are wary of vaccines after Covid but please, please get vaccinated.
'This is completely safe - it has been around since 1968. And it could save lives.'
A year on, Margot is happy and healthy but measles can be deadly or otherwise lead to very serious complications.
Early symptoms include a fever, sore, red and watery eyes, coughing and sneezing. Small white spots may appear inside the mouth, and a blotchy red or brown rash usually appears after a few days.
The rash typically starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.