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Measles: Half a million UK children missed jab | Measles: Half a million UK children missed jab |
(32 minutes later) | |
More than half a million children in the UK were not given a crucial measles jab between 2010 and 2017, an analysis by children's charity Unicef reveals. | More than half a million children in the UK were not given a crucial measles jab between 2010 and 2017, an analysis by children's charity Unicef reveals. |
It comes as NHS chief Simon Stevens warned measles cases had almost quadrupled in England in just one year and urged families to get the vaccine. | |
He said people rejecting vaccines was a "growing public health time bomb". | He said people rejecting vaccines was a "growing public health time bomb". |
Globally, the report shows, 169 million children were not given a first dose of measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017. | Globally, the report shows, 169 million children were not given a first dose of measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017. |
'Alarming' | 'Alarming' |
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to serious health complications - including infections of the lungs and brain - and is sometimes fatal. | |
Health experts say children should have two doses of the vaccine to fully protect against the disease. | Health experts say children should have two doses of the vaccine to fully protect against the disease. |
But, according to Unicef, a mixture of complacency, misinformation, scepticism about immunisations, and a lack of access to jabs has led to inadequate vaccination rates globally. | But, according to Unicef, a mixture of complacency, misinformation, scepticism about immunisations, and a lack of access to jabs has led to inadequate vaccination rates globally. |
The report shows that between 2010 and 2017: | |
Figures for the second dose of the measles vaccine "were even more alarming", Unicef said. | |
It found 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa had not introduced a second dose, putting more than 17 million infants a year at a greater risk of getting measles as a child. | |
'Wake-up call' | 'Wake-up call' |
Henrietta Fore, executive director at Unicef, said: "The measles virus will always find unvaccinated children. | Henrietta Fore, executive director at Unicef, said: "The measles virus will always find unvaccinated children. |
"If we are serious about averting the spread of this dangerous but preventable disease, we need to vaccinate every child, in rich and poor countries alike." | "If we are serious about averting the spread of this dangerous but preventable disease, we need to vaccinate every child, in rich and poor countries alike." |
Prof Beate Kampmann, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, described the figures as a "wake-up call." | Prof Beate Kampmann, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, described the figures as a "wake-up call." |
She said: "One thing is certain though: A single person with measles will be able to infect 90 other people who are not immune. | |
"Measles is highly infectious, even before the typical rash appears, so you cannot simply 'keep away'. | |
"We must protect children and communities against this potentially very serious but entirely preventable infectious disease - and the only way to do that is through vaccination." | "We must protect children and communities against this potentially very serious but entirely preventable infectious disease - and the only way to do that is through vaccination." |
Public Health England said though the overall risk to the public in England was low, unimmunised people were in danger of catching the disease while outbreaks continued in Europe. | Public Health England said though the overall risk to the public in England was low, unimmunised people were in danger of catching the disease while outbreaks continued in Europe. |
Ukraine, Madagascar and India have been worst affected by the disease so far this year, with tens of thousands of reported cases per million people. | Ukraine, Madagascar and India have been worst affected by the disease so far this year, with tens of thousands of reported cases per million people. |
Outbreaks have also hit Brazil, Pakistan and Yemen, while a spike in case numbers has been reported in the US and Thailand. | Outbreaks have also hit Brazil, Pakistan and Yemen, while a spike in case numbers has been reported in the US and Thailand. |
In Greater Manchester, more cases have been recorded this year than in the whole of the previous two years combined. | |
NHS chief Simon Stevens has warned that "vaccination deniers" have been gaining traction on social media, leading to the spread of misleading information. | |
The Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, has called for new legislation to force social media companies to remove content promoting false information about vaccines. |