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Measles Outbreak Raises Alarm Across England Following Child's Death
CONCERNS are mounting over a significant surge in measles cases across England, prompted by the tragic death of a child at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool after contracting the highly contagious illness. Public health officials and local government leaders are urgently calling for increased vaccination efforts, highlighting alarmingly low immunisation rates and the pervasive spread of misinformation.
In a statement published on July 14, 2025, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board, expressed profound sorrow:- "This is tragic news and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the child who sadly died. We are concerned about the increasing number of children and young people who are contracting measles. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that can cause children to be seriously unwell, requiring Hospital treatment, and in rare cases, death. There is an urgent need to address falling immunisation rates." In the statment sent to us, Cllr Fothergill underscored the critical need to address declining immunisation rates, saying:- “Nationally, only 84% of children in England receive the 1st dose of the MMR vaccine by age 2, and just 88.8% receive both doses by age 5 below the 95% threshold recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to achieve herd immunity. These gaps have contributed to 529 confirmed measles cases in England so far in 2025, with 68% occurring in children under the age of 10. We need action alongside awareness, and Councils stand ready to work in close partnership with the NHS and National Government to ensure families have access to clear, trusted information and convenient services to help ensure every child is protected. The LGA reaffirms its commitment to the principles outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan and urges the Department of Health and Social Care to work closely with Councils to strengthen vaccination uptake and safeguard public health." Following the tragic news, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust commented:- "To respect patient confidentiality, we can't comment on individual cases. We are concerned about the increasing number of children and young people who are contracting measles. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that can cause children to be seriously unwell, requiring Hospital treatment, and in rare cases, death. The number of children being treated at Alder Hey for effects and complications of measles is 17 since June 2025, and this number is still increasing. As a Hospital, we treat children with a range of conditions and illnesses within our Hospital, including those with compromised immunity due to other health issues, making them more susceptible to infections, including measles. We can prevent people, including children, from contracting measles through vaccination. Please protect yourself and vulnerable children and young people by ensuring you are fully vaccinated." Worryingly, news vaccination rates are:- "much lower" in areas like Liverpool and parts of London in recent years, since Covid. This is not solely a local or national issue but a worldwide concern. Since the Covid19 Pandemic Lockdowns, the uptake of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine has been declining, not only within the UK but also across the world, including within the USA. This decline has been linked to 3 deaths in the current outbreak in the USA. The decline in MMR vaccine uptake is attributed to a combination of reasons. It is reported that disruptions to routine healthcare during lockdowns, reduced in-person appointments, and growing vaccine hesitancy fuelled by misinformation are all key factors. Public health experts also cite vaccine fatigue, decreased promotion of childhood immunisations, and increased distrust in institutions as contributing to the fall in coverage. The drop has raised concerns about potential outbreaks, with calls for urgent action to restore vaccine confidence and access. Many healthcare experts are now warning that this situation could quickly spiral. Despite decades of scientific reassurance, fake claims about the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine persist. Experts warn that misinformation, like the debunked idea that MMR causes autism, continues to fuel vaccine hesitancy. After the pandemic, trust in public health agencies like the CDC, WHO, and NHS was eroded in some communities. This issue has been made worse by Social Media Platforms, such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, all of which have been major channels for anti-vaccine content. Social media posts often exaggerate vaccine side effects and downplay measles risks by using misinformation, which often spreads faster than real information. Often, this misinformation does this by using emotionally charged or fear-based messaging that AI algorithms can amplify, as the posts get seen as 'popular' due to the content getting strong reactions, even when false. The situation has not been helped by the added fact that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 2024 presidential candidate who is now the US Health and Human Services Secretary, is one of the most prominent sources of vaccine misinformation in the US. He has made repeated false claims about vaccines, including the MMR vaccines. His platform has contributed more directly to undermining public confidence in childhood vaccinations than the sitting President, and often helps push the misinformation by giving it a sense of credibility. Many say that the biggest damage to trust in the MMR has been the claims that MMR causes Autism. This claim originated from a fraudulent 1998 study:- 'conducted' by Andrew Wakefield, which claimed a link between MMR and autism. This and the claim that MMR contains harmful substances like mercury, formaldehyde, or aluminum are often seen on Social Media and pushed by many, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. What is more shocking is the fact that as children died in the US in the recent outbreak, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suggested that Andrew Jeremy Wakefield, the disgraced British Doctor who claimed the MMR vaccine causes autism, should have a statue erected of him. In the UK, as some parents distrust Government health advice and pharmaceutical companies, what is being pushed on the likes of X, which is coming from prominent people, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr, only helps to magnify the distrust within their minds. But it is not just misinformation in the UK that is having an impact. This can be made worse for some parts of our population, especially within deprived areas, or in communities with language barriers, all of whom face additional hurdles, such as issues around Universal Credit, forcing people to prioritise work over health. Often, work pressures lead to missed appointments, a lack of reminders for appointments to be made, and difficulty accessing GP services have all been shown to contribute to the lower uptake. Plus, within the UK, routine childhood vaccinations were disrupted during the Pandemic, leaving gaps in our national immunity, leading to over 500 measles cases being confirmed within England in 2025 alone, mostly in children under 10! Fact Check Highlights:-
Should we be worried? Yes! Health officials are still urging parents to rely on trusted medical sources and remind the public that MMR is 1 of the safest and most effective vaccines available. Your GP surgery will usually contact you about your child's MMR vaccinations, but if you have not had any information, please contact your GP. Older children who missed being vaccinated when they were younger may also be able to get the MMR vaccine through their School.
The MMR vaccine is free on the NHS and is usually administered in 2 doses: the first when a child is around 1 year old, and the 2nd before they start school, typically around 3 years and 4 months old. It's important to ensure children are fully vaccinated against these diseases due to the potential for serious illness and complications. For more information, please visit the NHS website by clicking here to learn about and book an appointment for the vaccination, and for more information about Measles, please click here. COMMENTS (0)
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