Latest news with #MMRvaccine
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Concerns over fall in MMR vaccine uptake in North East after Liverpool measles death
The fall in uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in children in the North East over the last ten years has been described as "concerning" - despite still being well above the national average. The death of a child from measles in Liverpool shows that the nation needs to 'redouble its efforts' to vaccinate more children, according to Wes Streeting. The most recently available figures show that vaccination rates of MMR1 at 24 months - the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine - and the second dose (MMR2) at five-years-old have both fallen across the region. The percentage of children who had the two vaccines in the North East in 2013/14 was 95.5 per cent (MMR1) and 92.9 per cent (MMR2). But the rates had fallen to 93.9 per cent (MMR1) and 89.7 per cent (MMR2) in 2023/24. Despite the fall, the North East continues to buck the trend as the vaccination rate ranks as one of the highest in the country and is still above the national average. The percentage of children receiving the MMR1 vaccine nationwide in 2023/24 was 88.9 per cent, and the figure for MMR2 was 83.9 per cent. The national target is 95%. Dr Catherine Monaghan, medical director, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: "Whilst uptake of the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine in our region continues to be higher than the national average, any fall in vaccination rates is concerning for us. "Measles is a highly infectious illness, and can cause life-changing complications including blindness, deafness and swelling of the brain. Very sadly measles can sometimes be fatal." County Durham is the best county in the North East for vaccine uptake, but rates there have fallen over the last ten years. Children in with both doses of MMR vaccine by their fifth birthday (Image: PA WIRE) In 2013/14, the vaccination rates of MMR1 at 24 months was 97.2 per cent, which fell to 95.7 per cent in 2023/24. The vaccination rates of MMR2 at five-years-old in 2013/14 was 94.6 per cent, which fell to 94.2 per cent in 2023/24. The rates also fell in Darlington, where the leader of the council noted the "downward trend" and encouraged residents to "protect your family". Councillor Stephen Harker said: "All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated and I would strongly encourage parents and carers to check that their child is up to date with their MMR vaccination. "This is usually administered at around one year and then again at three years and four months." Last year, there were 79 confirmed cases of measles in the North East, the lowest of anywhere in the country. The next highest was the North West (99), with London having the highest (1,305). So far in 2025, there have only been six recorded cases in the North East, the lowest in the country by some distance. The next lowest is the East Midlands (17), with London again being the highest (233). Dr Monaghan spoke further of the dangers of coming into contact with someone who has measles. She said: "Spending just 15 minutes or more in direct contact with someone infected is enough to catch measles, making it one of the most infectious diseases in the world. "Anyone who has not yet had their MMR vaccination (or is not otherwise immune because they have previously had measles), is at risk of catching this very serious but completely preventable disease, which is highly likely to spread rapidly if people remain unvaccinated. Recommended Reading: Steve Cram launches Durham City Run Festival with talk at Gala Theatre County Durham mum who lost son, 14, in river tragedy issues holiday water safety plea Partnership launched to give 'green skills' to people across North East "Anyone whose immunity is compromised, including pregnant women, are also at increased risk of severe disease from measles." Dr Monaghan stressed that NHS health teams across the region are working to increase uptake by identifying the areas with lower MMR rates and engaging with these communities around their vaccination needs. The full list of vaccine uptake in the last ten years across the North East can be found below. MMR1 at 24 months in 2013/14 County Durham - 97.2% Darlington - 93.4% Hartlepool - 91.7% Middlesbrough - 92.7% Redcar and Cleveland - 95.5% Stockton-on-Tees - 94.6% MMR1 at 24 months in 2023/24 County Durham - 95.7% Darlington - 91.9% Hartlepool - 93.5% Middlesbrough - 86.9% Redcar and Cleveland - 92.7% Stockton-on-Tees - 93.3% MMR2 at five-years-old in 2013/14 County Durham - 94.6% Darlington - 91.3% Hartlepool - 90.3% Middlesbrough - 90.3% Redcar and Cleveland - 93.4% Stockton-on-Tees - 90.6% MMR2 at five-years-old in 2023/24 County Durham - 94.2% Darlington - 87.9% Hartlepool - 89.2% Middlesbrough - 77.9% Redcar and Cleveland - 89.1% Stockton-on-Tees - 89.7%
France 24
2 days ago
- Health
- France 24
UK battles anti-vax misinformation after child's death
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications. It is preventable through double MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jabs in early childhood. Health Secretary Wes Streeting on July 14 confirmed to parliament that a child had died in the UK of measles. No details have been released, but The Sunday Times and Liverpool Echo newspapers reported the child had been severely ill with measles and other serious health problems in Alder Hey hospital in the northwestern city. Anti-vaxxers quickly posted unconfirmed claims about the death on social media. One British influencer, Ellie Grey, who has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram, posted a video denying the child died from measles. "Measles isn't this deadly disease... it's not dangerous," she said. Grey criticised Alder Hey for posting a video "really, really pushing and manipulating parents into getting the MMR vaccine". Her video was reposted by another British influencer, Kate Shemirani, a struck-off ex-nurse who posts health conspiracy theories. "No vaccine has ever been proven safe and no vaccine has ever been proven effective," Shemirani claimed falsely. Liverpool's public health chief Matthew Ashton attacked those "spreading misinformation and disinformation about childhood immunisations" in the Echo newspaper, saying "they need to take a very long, hard look at themselves." "For those of you that don't know, measles is a really nasty virus," he said in a video, adding that the jab is a way of "protecting yourself and your loved ones". Alder Hey said it has treated 17 children with measles since June. It posted a video in which a paediatric infectious diseases consultant, Andrew McArdle, addresses measles "myths", including that the MMR jab causes autism. This false claim comes from a debunked 1998 study by a British doctor, Andrew Wakefield, who was later struck off. But it sparked an international slump in vaccinations. 'Lingering questions' Benjamin Kasstan-Dabush, a medical anthropologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told AFP there are still "lingering questions around the Wakefield era". He talked to parents who had delayed vaccinating their children, finding reasons included life events and difficulty getting health appointments, but also misinformation. "We're obviously talking about a different generation of parents, who might be engaging with that Wakefield legacy through social media, through the internet, and of course through Kennedy," he said. US President Donald Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr as health secretary despite his promotion of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Kennedy fired all 17 experts on a key vaccine advisory panel and appointed a scientist who warned against Covid jabs. In the United States, "misinformation is being produced in the highest echelons of the Trump administration", which "circulates across the internet", Kasstan-Dabush said. In a sign of how narratives spread, a Telegram group airing conspiracies called Liverpool TPR, which has around 2,000 members, regularly posts links to anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense once chaired by Kennedy. In the past few weeks the UK Health Security Agency has amplified its social media coverage on vaccinations, a spokesman said. In a video in response to the reported death, Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist, explained the MMR jab protects others, including those "receiving treatment like chemotherapy that can weaken or wipe out their immunity". Take-up of the MMR jab needs to be 95 percent for herd immunity, according to the World Health Organisation. The UK has never hit this target. In Liverpool, uptake for both doses is only around 74 percent and below 50 percent in some areas, according to Ashton, while the UK rate is 84 percent. After Wakefield's autism claims, confirmed measles cases topped 2,000 in England and Wales in 2012 before dropping. But last year, cases soared again. The same trend is happening in other countries. Europe last year reported the highest number of cases in over 25 years; the United States has recorded its worst measles epidemic in over 30 years. Canada, which officially eradicated measles in 1998, has registered more than 3,500 cases this year. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS Lothian issues urgent warning to parents amid measles outbreak
NHS Lothian is urging parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated against measles as cases in Scotland continue to rise. To make sure that children in the Lothians and Edinburgh are up to date with their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations, the health board has set up summer vaccination clinics in the area. Public Health Scotland recommends that all young people get the MMR vaccine for protection for the highly infectious measles, mumps and rubella. READ MORE: Edinburgh wife demands answers as husband 'lay dead in City Chambers toilets for six days' READ MORE: New high-tech Edinburgh gym in busy shopping park announces opening date These diseases are easily spread through coughs and sneezes and can be serious. Young people should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine for full, long-lasting protection. In Scotland, the first dose is offered between the age of 12 and 13 months, with the second dose offered before starting primary school. Children who have not received both doses may still be at risk. Ashley Goodfellow, Deputy Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian, said: 'Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease, which is spread through coughs and sneezes. As cases increase across Scotland, we strongly urge people to check their children are vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. 'Extra clinics have been set up this summer to offer the vaccine to those who are not fully protected. The vaccines are free and are highly effective in fighting off the virus. Having two doses is the best way to avoid serious medical complications.' To book an appointment at one of the local clinics, phone the NHS Lothian Vaccination Enquiries Line on 0300 790 6296. First dose appointments will be available in July and August. If a parent is contacted to book an MMR appointment for their child but they have already had both doses, please contact 0300 790 6296 to update their medical records. More information on the MMR vaccine can be found here. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
US measles cases hit highest level in more than 30 years, CDC data shows
The current number of measles cases in the U.S. is at its highest level in more than 30 years, according to new data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said 1,288 confirmed cases have been recorded as of Tuesday throughout 38 states. Texas leads the nation with more than 700 cases. Last year, the CDC reported only 285 measles cases. In 2019, there were 1,274 recorded, but this year's total so far is the most since 1992, when there were 2,126 cases. "There have been 27 outbreaks reported in 2025, and 88% of confirmed cases (1,130 of 1,288) are outbreak-associated," according to the CDC. "For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated." Midwestern State Reports First Measles Case Since 2011 Measles cases this year have led to three deaths across the U.S. -- and 92% of those who have contracted the virus are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. Read On The Fox News App Of this year's cases, 13% have required hospitalization. Those under the age of five are the most likely to require additional medical care, the CDC said. "The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is very safe and effective. When more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated (coverage >95%), most people are protected through community immunity (herd immunity)," it added. "However, vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners has decreased from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.7% in the 2023–2024 school year, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk during the 2023–2024 school year." The states with cases are Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Measles Cases Continue To Climb Ahead Of Summer Travel The CDC also said "Measles was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning there is no measles spreading within the country and new cases are only found when someone contracts measles abroad and returns to the country." Health officials said measles symptoms begin to appear 7 to 14 days after contracting the virus and include a high fever, coughing and rashes. "Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age," the CDC said. "Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis." "Measles is very contagious," the CDC warns. "It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been. This can happen even up to 2 hours after that person has left."Original article source: US measles cases hit highest level in more than 30 years, CDC data shows Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Thursday briefing: Misinformation, access and cuts – the UK's measles surge explained
Good morning. Not too long ago, the UK was really good at beating measls. In 2017, the World Health Organisation declared that the the disease had been eliminated for the first time in the UK, after no indigenous cases had been recorded in three years. Now, measles is back. Already this year there have been more than 500 confirmed cases in England, the majority in young children. On Sunday it was announced that a child who contracted measles had died at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital, which had seen an additional 17 cases since the beginning of June. What makes this case more tragic is that healthcare professionals say no child should lose its life to this disease in the UK. The MMR vaccine, offered to all children in the UK, gives 97% protection against becoming infected with measles, mumps and rubella. Yet as measles cases not just in the UK but across the world see a surge, vaccination rates are plunging. Much of the blame has fallen on anti-vax conspiracy theories, which rehash the debunked links between the MMR vaccine and autism and tell parents that vaccines are akin to injecting their children with poison. But according to healthcare professionals, many other factors are also at play, and dealing with the complex reasons why parents aren't getting their children the jab is becoming increasingly urgent. For today's newsletter I talked to Dr Elizabeth Whittaker, the clinical lead for paediatric infectious diseases at Imperial College healthcare NHS trust, about why vaccine levels are falling and what can be done to reverse this decline. Middle East crisis | At least 20 Palestinians have been killed in a crush at a food distribution site in southern Gaza run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, after guards used teargas or pepper spray on hungry crowds arriving at the centre. UK politics | Conservative former ministers have 'serious questions to answer' over the secret scheme to resettle Afghan nationals named in a data breach under the previous government, Keir Starmer has said. Labour | Four Labour MPs have had the whip removed for repeatedly breaching discipline, with three others demoted, in an effort to assert control over the party. The Guardian understands that the four are Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff. US politics | Donald Trump has dismissed a secretive inquiry into the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as 'boring' and of interest only to 'bad people', but said he backed the release of any 'credible' files. UK news | The Prevent anti-terrorism scheme missed chances to protect the public from the attacker who assassinated the MP Sir David Amess, and from the youth who murdered three young girls at a Southport dance class, an official report has found. Just a few decades ago, the likelihood of a child dying from measles in a UK hospital would have seemed remote, if not almost impossible. Yet Dr Elizabeth Whittaker said that the disease's resurgence has almost been a foregone conclusion as vaccination rates have steadily fallen over the past 10 years. To ensure herd immunity against measles, where enough people are protected to prevent the virus spreading, vaccination rates must hit 95%. The current rate across England is 84%. 'Measles has never been eradicated in any part of the world and if a country drops below that 95% herd immunity threshold then the disease will return,' said Whittaker. 'I think a huge part of the problem is that we have been so good at preventing measles, none of us really have any lived experience of understanding how devastating these infections can be.' How fast is measles spreading in the UK? According to NHS data, there have been 529 confirmed cases in England so far this year, with 68% occurring in children under the age of 10. The disease is highly infectious and airborne. In the past few years, outbreaks have occurred around the country, with the West Midlands experiencing cases at their highest level since the mid-1990s. The uptick in measles cases comes as no surprise to infectious disease experts such as Whittaker, considering that figures from NHS England show that 3.4 million children under the age of 16 years have not been fully immunised with the MMR vaccine. The UK's rising measles rates are part of a global upward trend. Measles cases in the US and Europe are at their highest levels in 33 years and 25 years respectively. Why are parents not getting their children vaccinated? Whittaker said that while there has certainly been a barrage of misinformation and conspiracy theories around the MMR vaccine – and vaccines in general – in recent years, she believes that this is only part of the story. 'Of course there is some vaccine hesitancy out there, but the bigger lesson here – and it's a good one because this is much easier to tackle – is that access is a massive issue,' she said. She said a recent report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found that there was a reasonably good uptake in early childhood vaccines when women were on maternity leave and in close contact with healthcare professionals, but then this tailed off by the time children should be getting their first MMR jab at 12 months. This declined even further by the time the second jab was due at three to five years. 'It's things like parents working zero-hours contracts who can't afford the day off, or vaccines only being offered on certain times of the week, or a lack of transport or not being able to navigate the GP practice appointment system,' said Whittaker. 'So the key thing to tackle is increased flexibility on how, where and when these vaccines are being offered.' How have cuts to NHS services contributed? Another barrier to access is the way that information about the vaccine is being disseminated. 'Trusted individuals like midwives who are in contact with new mothers are replaced often by people who families don't know,' said Whittaker. 'Before you'd have a family doctor, now you see a different GP every time you go into the surgery. Health visitor resourcing is inadequate, so this means that trusted touch points between the health system and new parents have been lost.' Without access to the information and the vaccine, anti-vax messaging can move into this vacuum and become the dominant narrative. 'We've had parents reporting that they were never worried about vaccines, but that since all the doubt and conspiracy theories that took hold about the Covid vaccine, they're now questioning the credibility and safety of all vaccines, including the MMR,' said Whittaker. 'For a lot of women having a baby or being on your own with multiple small children is a very isolating experience and exposure to misinformation online isn't counteracted by contact with a trusted healthcare professional.' What can be done to reverse this? Whittaker said that there has to be an awareness that 'what works for us in north London may not work in Liverpool. We can make the systems as good as possible, but we need to provide solutions that are specific to the local population.' She points to a project she has recently visited in west London run in partnership with a local community group called Why Did Nobody Ask Us?, which attempts to work with parents from diverse backgrounds to understand the reasons underpinning slow vaccine take-up in their communities. 'We know Black African women have the lowest uptake of vaccines but nobody is really asking why,' she said. 'We need to listen to parents because their answers are probably the most crucial tool we have in tackling declining vaccination rates. Information has to be disseminated in as many ways and languages as possible.' Whittaker is also optimistic about other developments taking place, such as rolling out vaccination appointments and reminders through the NHS app. Yet what is clear is that there needs to be a massive and rapid investment into prioritising child health across the NHS. She sees the decline in vaccines as a manifestation of 'a real neglect of children's health across the board and it's something that has to change if we're going to reverse this trend'. What will happen if measles continues to spread? Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Whittaker said that if measles begins to spread and vaccinations levels continue to fall, the health system is likely to come under increasing strain. 'Measles comes with a huge health risk. Not only can children get really ill from the disease but they have a high risk of secondary bacterial infections,' she said. 'This all places a huge burden on an already overstretched system and means health care could be diverted from other children who desperately need it and comes at a significant economic cost.' Often the first time the hospitals come into contact with an infected child, 'they present with symptoms that aren't obviously measles and have sat in a waiting room and interacted with multiple other children and adults'. This means that when children do come back with all the visible signs of the disease, 'we then need to go back and contact trace everyone they might have been in contact with who could then be spreading infection through their community. It's a huge job and not one that we're currently prepared for.' She points out that this is a disease that could swiftly get out of hand if vaccination levels remain low. 'Unless we tackle this now, we've got a very big problem coming down the line.' This interview with Janet Street-Porter by the Guardian's Simon Hattenstone made me howl with laughter. A feature that shows them both at their best. Aamna As someone who remains traumatised by It, I'm not sure I'll make it through this whole list of the greatest Stephen King TV hits and misses but I'll certainly give some of these a go. Annie Trump's decision to launch a politically waged trade war against Brazil in defense of Jair Bolsonaro has spectacularly backfired, writes Tom Phillips. Aamna Very powerful reportage from Minatullah Alobaidi for the excellent New Lines magazine on the resurgence of Iraq's child brides as women's rights around the world continue to crumble. Annie If, like me, you're terrible at keeping up with life's admin, check out these useful tips from administrators. Aamna Cricket | Deepti Sharma tallied 62 as the tourists chased down their hosts, India winning by four wickets despite an error-strewn spell with the bat. 1st women's ODI: India, 262-6, beat England, 258-6, by four wickets. Golf | The R&A says it has held a 'really good discussion' with Donald Trump's family over the thorny issue of when their Turnberry course might stage the Open again. Cycling | In a chaotic climax to stage 11 of the Tour de France in Toulouse, Tadej Pogacar crashed at speed before remounting to finish, an anti-Israel protester ran on to the finish line, and the Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen took his first Grand Tour stage win, for Uno-X. 'Four MPs lose Labour whip as PM attempts to reassert grip on party' is the Guardian's splash. The i paper has 'Reeves blamed for UK inflation hike, as NI rise hits food prices'. Top story in the Financial Times is 'Diageo chief stands down as falling alcohol sales take toll'. The Metro splashes on 'New Maxwell appeal bid as Trump flips'. 'Cabinet bid to halt Afghan airlift' – not now but when the Tories were in, the Telegraph reports. 'Afghan leak intelligence was hidden from MPs' says the Times. 'Thanks for saving us, now we'll sue you' – the Daily Mail is annoyed that Afghans put at risk of Taliban murder might seek compensation. 'Sue chef' – the Mirror says that's John Torode versus the BBC over his MasterChef ousting. 'They failed to provide what might have helped' – the Prevent anti-terror programme comes under fire in the Express over the Southport and David Ames murders. Why doctors are striking … again When Labour came to power it moved fast to end the public sector strikes. But now resident doctors are demanding a 29% rise in pay. Will they get it and will it put Labour's plans for the NHS at risk? Denis Campbell reports A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad A new London art institution aimed at promoting global majority voices will open this coming October in Fitzrovia, central London. It will be a space for 'difficult, urgent questions' and a bastion for respectful debate without the 'aggression' seen in a lot of political discourse. Ibraaz began life as an online platform before its launch as a home for global majority art and artists at a 10,000-square-foot Grade II-listed site. Its first exhibition will be Ibrahim Mahama's long-running, evolving work Parliament of Ghosts, which also appeared at the Manchester international festival in 2019 and features discarded objects from Mahama's west African homeland of Ghana. The Otolith Collective will create a 'library-in-residence', while the east London booksellers Burley Fisher will run Ibraaz's bookshop, which the Palestine festival of literature will initially curate. There will also be a talks programme. Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply
