Parents urged to get kids vaccinated after Liverpool death
Measles is highly contagious and the effects can be fatal, medics warn.
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccinations are offered to children in two stages.
The first dose, MMR1, is typically given around 12 months of age, while the second dose, MMR2, is usually administered around three years of age.
Both doses are necessary for optimal protection against these three viral diseases.
The World Health Organisation says at least 95 per cent of children in a community should be vaccinated to ensure herd immunity because measles is so contagious.
In Wiltshire, vaccination rates are well above the South West and UK averages, but still dip below the 95 per cent target for the MMR2 jab.
In the year 2023-24, 96.3 per cent of children in the county had received their MMR1 jab by the age of five, while 92 per cent had received the MMR2 vaccination.
In Wiltshire, vaccination rates climbed to an all-time high in 2020-21 and 2021-22 before declining slightly.
MMR 1 vaccination rates increased marginally between 2022-23 and 2023-24 but MMR 2 vaccination rates declined slightly.
In the South West, there were 112 laboratory confirmed measles cases in 2024, with 40 of those cases being reported in children aged five and under.
In 2025 so far, there have been 58 laboratory confirmed measles cases, with children under five accounting for 29 cases.
Fewer than 10 cases were reported in Wiltshire, so the county does not feature individually in health statistics.
The UK Health Security Agency is responsible for monitoring the disease, promoting vaccination, and responding to outbreaks.
In a statement, the UKHSA South West said: 'Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications.
'It is preventable with the MMR vaccine, so parents should make sure their children are up to date and catch up on any missed doses.'
Symptoms to look out for include cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.
This progresses with a distinctive rash that starts on the face or behind the ears and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Measles can leave people seriously ill and even be fatal.
While the incident in Liverpool is only the second reported death of a child from measles in the past five years, health authorities are concerned about the UK's low vaccination rate.
In Liverpool, only 73 per cent of children aged five have received the necessary two shots, while in parts of London – where over 1,300 cases of measles were reported last year – vaccine uptake is below 65 per cent.
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