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| Measles: Half a million UK children missed vaccine | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| More than half a million children in the UK were not given a crucial measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017, an analysis by charity Unicef reveals. | More than half a million children in the UK were not given a crucial measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017, an analysis by charity Unicef reveals. |
| It comes as NHS chief Simon Stevens warned measles cases had almost quadrupled in just one year and urged families to get the vaccine. | It comes as NHS chief Simon Stevens warned measles cases had almost quadrupled 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, 169 million children missed out on the first dose of the vaccine over seven years, the report found. | |
| 'Alarming' | 'Alarming' |
| Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to serious health complications, including infections of the lungs, eyes and brain. In one in 25,000 cases, brain complications can be fatal. | Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to serious health complications, including infections of the lungs, eyes and brain. In one in 25,000 cases, brain complications can be fatal. |
| Babies and children with weakened immune systems are most at risk of complications - more common ones include diarrhoea and vomiting, lung infections and fits caused by a fever. | Babies and children with weakened immune systems are most at risk of complications - more common ones include diarrhoea and vomiting, lung infections and fits caused by a fever. |
| Millions of lives worldwide have been saved by the measles vaccinations given to young children - but too many are still dying, Unicef says. | |
| 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. |
| In many countries, including the UK, the MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella (or German measles). | In many countries, including the UK, the MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella (or German measles). |
| The first dose is given to babies around their first birthday and the second dose before starting school, when three to four years old. | The first dose is given to babies around their first birthday and the second dose before starting school, when three to four years old. |
| Global problem | Global problem |
| 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 estimates that between 2010 and 2017: | |
| Figures for the second dose of the measles vaccine "were even more alarming", Unicef said. | 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. | 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. |
| In 2017, 85% of children worldwide were vaccinated with the first dose but only 67% with the second dose of the measles vaccine, Unicef says. | |
| '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. | 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'. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Have you been affected by this? Has either you or your child contracted measles? haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by this? Has either you or your child contracted measles? haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |