The spread of measles across north London schools is a stark reminder that undervaccinated children are sitting ducks for disease outbreaks. These sick children are proof measles remains a threat without higher and more equitable vaccine coverage across the UK, and that their health is closely tied to the global challenge of disease control.
Measles is not a mild childhood illness. Early symptoms include a heavy cold with fever and cough – before the tell-tale rash appears. Measles can lead to pneumonia, brain inflammation and long-term disability, and as we saw last year, death. It is one of the most contagious viruses, and the London outbreaks show how swiftly the virus exploits gaps in vaccination coverage.
This latest flare-up comes against an alarming backdrop. The World Health Organization has confirmed the UK no longer meets the criteria for having eliminated measles after vaccination cases surged in 2024. This follows a downward trend in vaccination coverage over the past decade.
So what do we need to know and do – and should parents be panicking? Two doses of measles-containing vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect children. The problem is that uptake nationally has failed to reach the 95% level needed for community immunity, leaving dangerous pockets of vulnerability.
Parents should check their children’s vaccination records. It is never too late to catch-up on the NHS routine schedule. Acting quickly not only protects your own child but also babies too young to be vaccinated and youngsters with weakened immune systems. Children can receive catch-up vaccination within three days of exposure to measles.
Action is also required at national and global levels. The spread of measles in north London is a reminder of how children’s education is disrupted by outbreaks, forcing parents to take extended care leave from work. Schools play a crucial role in delivering vaccine information and catch-up campaigns on their premises.
However, there are scores of London schools that do not allow access to immunisation teams, putting children at unfair risk, and this needs attention. This story is part of a global rise in measles cases and deaths. Britain is an island but it does not exist in isolation. Viruses travel on planes as easily as passengers, allowing outbreaks to cross borders. That is why supporting global initiatives such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which helps immunise children in the world’s poorest countries, is a moral obligation and in the interests of the NHS.
Cutting international assistance may save short-term pennies, but brings longer-term costs. The lesson is clear: prevention works; turning a blind eye does not. Ensuring fair access to vaccination – at home and abroad – is an obligation that we cannot afford to shirk.
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