Measles outbreaks are currently happening in Birmingham and Coventry with most cases being children under 10 years old. Unfortunately, this is not a new issue. The story of eight or nine-year-old Ben serves as a haunting reminder about the dangers of the highly contagious virus. Ben was a happy and healthy boy until he had a seizure related to measles and was transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Tests revealed that Ben had a condition called Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), which is a progressive neurological disorder that is caused by measles and affects the central nervous system. The condition gets worse over time and sadly, Ben never recovered, passing away in the hospital.
As a medical student at the time, Professor Louise Kenny was part of the medical team attending to Ben. The experience had a profound impact on her and it stayed with her throughout her life. She became a medical doctor and witnessed the aftermath of the anti-vaccination movement, which was sparked by Andrew Wakefield’s paper that claimed a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Despite the considerable scientific evidence proving otherwise, this movement has continued to cause concern for parents who may be hesitant to get their children vaccinated.
Measles can be easily prevented by getting the MMR vaccine from a GP practice. The vaccine is free on the NHS and is readily available. In 1992, the MMR vaccination programme was introduced in the UK, but Ben was among the last children to die from measles. It was hoped that the programme, which is free, widely available, and offers lifelong protection against measles, would eradicate the disease, but unfortunately, this has not been the case. Last year, there were around 250 confirmed cases of measles in England, mostly in children under the age of 10.
Getting vaccinated is a smart, community spirited choice that can protect everyone from the disease. As Professor Kenny suggests, it is important to look out for ourselves and our communities, so let’s get vaccinated and make measles history
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