‘Serious concern’ over Victorian diseases in children as parents urged to act

CHILDREN are at growing risk of measles and polio because parents aren’t getting them vaccinated, health bosses warn.

The UK Health Security Agency today said low jab rates are a “serious concern”.

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Vaccine uptake fell during the Covid crisis and clinics have struggled to recover, with coverage now among the lowest of the past 10 years.

It means British children are increasingly in danger of catching deadly but preventable diseases.

Measles, mumps, polio, meningitis and pneumonia could all make a comeback.

The UK had wiped out measles until it returned in 2019 and cases are at a three-year high in 2023, with 141 between January and July.

Councils in London, where outbreaks tend to be worst, have warned parents their children could be made to isolate if a classmate catches the virus.

Kids can be protected against the deadliest bugs with free NHS jabs from GP surgeries and schools.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, of the UKHSA, said: “The continuing downward trend for the uptake of routine childhood vaccinations is a serious concern. 

“The diseases that these vaccines protect against can be life-changing and even deadly. 

“No parent wants this for their child, especially when these diseases are easily preventable. 

“Please don’t put this off, check now that your children are fully up to date with all their vaccines.”

UKHSA statistics show around one in 10 children are unvaccinated.

Before tots start school, parents are advised to make sure they have the following vaccines – equal to around 13 doses:

Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the University of Nottingham, said: “It’s really important to understand what factors are leading to this overall decline in childhood vaccine uptake, so that measures to increase rates can be put in place. 

“Immunisation is the best weapon we have against so many childhood diseases, and for some infections uptake needs to be as high as possible to stop dangerous outbreaks. 

“Because vaccines have been so effective, we forget that these infections can result in serious illness and even death.”