Health authorities in England are urging parents to ensure their children get any missed vaccinations before returning to school.
With the start of the new school year, there are fears of an increase in cases of the highly contagious measles virus, which can have serious consequences for some children.
Uptake of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, has improved in many areas since a series of outbreaks last year – but health experts say there is still some catching up to do.
Children can also be protected from other serious diseases such as whooping cough, meningitis, diphtheria and polio.
Davina Barrett, from Walsall, was “shocked” at how ill her three-month-old son Ezra was after contracting measles.
“The rash spread quickly and covered his entire body,” she said.
“It was horrific to see him struggling to breathe and hooked up to oxygen.
“I had no idea that measles could make babies so sick.”
Ezra was admitted to the hospital after developing a red, blotchy rash.
Within a few hours he developed breathing difficulties and pneumonia.
Very young children are at greatest risk of severe illness and lifelong complications from measles.
Babies like Ezra are too young to be vaccinated, but health experts say older children can still be protected by making sure they get the vaccine.
“It only takes a single case in a school or kindergarten where many children are unprotected and the numbers suddenly skyrocket,” said Dr. Vanessa Saliba of the British Health Security Agency.
Steve Russell, NHS national immunization and screening director, said measles could clearly be “really dangerous” and it was “crucial” that children were vaccinated.
Major measles outbreaks in England Last year, a campaign was launched in London, the West Midlands and the North West to encourage parents to catch up on missed vaccinations.
Two MMR vaccinations offer the best and safest protection against measles.
One vaccination is offered at one year of age and a second at three years and four months, as part of the NHS routine childhood immunisation programme.
According to NHS England, thousands more young people have been protected since the campaign began, with more than 13% of previously unvaccinated children under five having received a vaccination.
But by March, only 92 percent of children under six in England had received their first MMR vaccination and 83 percent had received their second. – The target is 95%.
The latest figures for Scotland and Wales show that they have achieved the target.
Parents of any child over one year of age can make an appointment for an MMR vaccination through their family doctor.
You can find out whether your child has received all vaccinations from your child’s red book.
Measles spreads easily through coughing, sneezing and breathing on others, especially when early symptoms appear.
The first signs of measles can look like a cold. These include:
- a high temperature
- a runny nose
- Sneeze
- a cough
- red, watery eyes
A few days later, you may see:
- Spots in the mouth
- a rash on the face and behind the ears that spreads to the body and looks red or brown on white skin but may be more difficult to see on brown and black skin
If you think your child has measles and they are less than one year old or appear very ill, call NHS 111 or make an urgent GP appointment.
If measles spreads to the lungs or brain, complications such as meningitis, seizures, and blindness can occur.