{"id":9336,"date":"2024-08-29T08:34:59","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T08:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/parents-warned-of-back-to-school-measles-surge\/"},"modified":"2024-08-29T08:34:59","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T08:34:59","slug":"parents-warned-of-back-to-school-measles-surge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/parents-warned-of-back-to-school-measles-surge\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents warned of back-to-school measles surge"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"BarrettBarrett family<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Ezra was taken to hospital when he developed measles at three months old<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Health officials are urging parents in England to ensure their children are up to date with any missed vaccinations before they return to school.<\/p>\n

A rise in cases of the highly spreadable measles virus, which can be very serious in some children, is feared when the new term starts.<\/p>\n

Uptake of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, has improved in many areas since a spate of outbreaks last year – but health experts say there is still ground to make up.<\/p>\n

Children can also be protected against other serious diseases, such as whooping cough, meningitis, diptheria and polio. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"BarrettBarrett family<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Ezra developed a red, spotty rash typical with measles<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Davina Barrett, from Walsall, was “shocked” how ill her three-month-old son, Ezra, was after catching measles.<\/p>\n

“The rash spread rapidly and covered his entire body,” she said.<\/p>\n

“Seeing him struggling to breathe and being hooked up to oxygen was awful.<\/p>\n

“I had no idea measles could make babies so ill.”<\/p>\n

Ezra was taken to hospital after developing a red, spotty rash.<\/p>\n

Within hours, he had breathing difficulties and pneumonia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Davina, Karl and their two sons<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Very young children are at highest risk of severe illness and lifelong complications from measles.<\/p>\n

Babies like Ezra are too young to be vaccinated but ensuring slightly older children have had the jab can also protect them, health experts say.<\/p>\n

“It only takes one case to get into a school or nursery where many children are unprotected for numbers to suddenly surge,” Dr Vanessa Saliba, from the UK Health Security Agency, said.<\/p>\n

NHS National vaccinations and screening director Steve Russell said measles clearly “can be really dangerous” and it was “critical” children were vaccinated.<\/p>\n

Major measles outbreaks in England<\/a> in the past year, in London, the West Midlands and the North West, sparked a campaign for parents to catch up on missed jabs.<\/p>\n

Two MMR jabs<\/a> offer the best and safest protection against measles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One is offered at the age of one, a second at three years and four months, as part of the NHS routine childhood-vaccination programme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Since the campaign, NHS England says, thousands more young people are protected, with more than 13% of previously unvaccinated under-fives having a jab.<\/p>\n

But by March, only 92% of under-sixes in England had had their first MMR jab and 83% their second<\/a> – the target is 95%.<\/p>\n

Latest figures for Scotland and Wales show they met the target.<\/p>\n

Parents of any child aged over one can make an appointment for an MMR jab through their GP. <\/p>\n

Your child’s red book will reveal whether they are up to date with all vaccines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Measles spreads easily through coughing, sneezing and breathing on others, particularly when early symptoms appear.<\/p>\n

The first signs of measles can look like a cold. They include:<\/p>\n