Measles is back: why vaccines matter

In the UK, statistics show that fewer people are getting vaccinated, both for themselves and their children. While there may be many reasons for this, the impact is clear. If vaccination rates keep dropping, we’ll see more preventable diseases coming back - as we've already seen with whooping cough and, more recently, measles.

Why getting vaccinated is important for your health

The NHS provides routine vaccinations free of charge to protect you and your children from serious, potentially life-threatening diseases.

It’s important to have these vaccines at the recommended ages - not just to protect your own health, but to help protect others around you too.

Professor Rachel Isba, Consultant in Paediatric Public Health Medicine, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK explains that evidence shows vaccinations have saved millions and millions of lives since global universal vaccination was introduced.

"They're one of the greatest public health and medical interventions of all time - up there with clean water," says the Professor of Children and Young People's Health, Lancaster University, UK. "Their success has led to a situation where many people have not witnessed the diseases that vaccines help prevent."

Professor Rachel Isba, Consultant in Paediatric Public Health Medicine, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK

Why are vaccination rates falling?

There are many reasons why vaccination rates are declining. For some, it may include everyday obstacles such as fitting appointments into busy lives. Others may struggle with booking systems or miss out on reminders.

Isba explains that another major reason may be the belief that diseases such as measles are no longer a threat. Many people haven’t seen anyone with measles in their lifetime, so it’s easy to assume it’s a thing of the past.

"However, the reason you don't know anyone who has ever had measles is because we vaccinate against it," she explains. "This situation is similar to last year's rise in whooping cough cases.

"A clear way to illustrate this is by comparing it to smallpox. You've never seen anyone with smallpox - that's because the disease was eradicated through vaccination."

How safe are vaccines?

With the rise of social media came increased exposure to misinformation - especially around vaccine safety. Often, these views are based on opinion rather than evidence, meaning some people may question the safety of vaccines without researching the facts.

"The vast majority of parents and carers want to do what is best for their child," says Isba. "Getting vaccinated is what's best. But if you need to have a conversation about that, this is a perfectly reasonable thing to do."

Why the measles vaccine matters

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to severe illness - especially in young children and people with weakened immune systems.

Can everyone get the measles vaccine?

A small number of people cannot be vaccinated due to underlying health conditions. Additionally, children under the age of one are not eligible for the MMR vaccine.

"This constitutes a significant portion of the population," says Isba. "The idea is that if the rest of us get vaccinated against measles, we will protect those who can't."

Health complications caused by measles

Measles can cause a range of severe health complications, especially in those who are most vulnerable.

Isba highlights the health dangers associated with the disease:

• Ear infections - the most common and can affect your long-term hearing.

• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) - raises pressure inside your skull, harming brain tissue and function.

• Pneumonia - measles weakens your immune system, making you more vulnerable to pneumonia during the infection.

Other serious complications of measles include blindness, seizures, and meningitis.

Measles during pregnancy can also cause severe outcomes - such as pregnancy loss, early delivery, and babies being born underweight.

How to help stop the spread of measles

A simple way to help fight the rise in measles cases is to get the MMR vaccine - especially if you're travelling abroad, where you may be exposed to measles in other countries as well.

"Measles is all over the world at the moment," says Isba. "It's a global issue - not just confined to the UK. If you were going on holiday to somewhere with malaria, you would take medicine to stop you getting malaria. Similarly, you should consider the MMR vaccine like any other travel vaccine."

"If you decide you want to get vaccinated, you'll be welcomed with open arms," Isba says. "It's straightforward, safe, and a good opportunity to check whether all your other vaccines are up to date too."

If you're unsure which vaccines you're eligible for, or when you should have received them, the NHS has a helpful list to guide you, here.