A mother whose baby had “breathing difficulties” after contracting measles has urged parents to get their children vaccinated – as health officials warn of a possible surge in cases ahead of the new school year.
Last year there was a major outbreak of the disease in the UK. began in the West Midlands and has now spread to all regions of the country.
There was 321,582 cases worldwide in 2023 – an increase of 88% compared to the previous year, when 171,153 cases were registered.
Davina Barrett from Walsall said it was “terrible” when her then three-month-old son Ezra fell ill and the family were “so shocked at how bad he got so quickly”.
Davina and Karl Barrett with their sons Noah and baby Ezra. Photo: Davina Barrett
She said the rash “spread rapidly and covered his whole body,” adding: “It was horrific to see him struggling to breathe and hooked up to oxygen.”
“I had no idea measles could make babies so sick.”
She urged people to get their children vaccinated, saying: “Parents need to know that they are not only protecting their own child, but that the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine can also save the life of a baby like Ezra who is too young to be able to vaccinate himself.”
“Measles can be bad, but it is completely preventable.”
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Almost twice as many cases worldwide in one year
Image: Davina Barrett
“Easily preventable” diseases
To this end, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England are urging parents to have their children vaccinated against “easily preventable” diseases as part of a new six-week campaign.
Authorities are currently focusing on measles, whooping cough, meningitis, diphtheria and polio and are concerned that uptake of the MMR vaccine is still too low in some areas of England.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “As a mother and doctor, it is particularly tragic to see children suffering when these diseases are so easily preventable.
“Two MMR vaccinations offer the best and safest protection against measles. Without vaccination, however, children are at risk of serious illness or lifelong complications.
“No parent wants that for their child.”
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According to UKHSA data, there were 2,278 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles in England from the beginning of 2024 to 5 August.
In the four weeks up to that date, there were 153 cases, most of them in London.
The UKHSA also said the NHS had administered 180,000 extra MMR doses in the past 12 months, of which more than 51,000 were given to children aged five or under.
More than 13% of previously unvaccinated children under five years of age also received their first dose of vaccine during this period.
In addition, the administration of the second dose among black, Caribbean or African children aged between three and five years increased by 4.9%.
