A MUM whose baby was left struggling to breathe after catching measles is begging parents to get their kids vaccinated.
Georgia House, 29, spent five days in London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with five-month-old Margot after she caught the highly contagious infection, which is currently on the rise.
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Margot, who had a cold, a cough, and a red blotchy rash, is too young for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
She caught the virus when she was at the same hospital being treated for a completely separate allergic reaction in early April.
The infant had to be connected to oxygen and feeding tubes to help her fight the virus, and at one point, her oxygen levels were frighteningly low.
Georgia is desperate to encourage other parents to vaccinate their children, as the UK records a dramatic increase in measles infections.
England is facing a measles emergency, with 86 confirmed cases over the past week, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
It brings the total number of measles cases recorded so far this year to almost 900 – a sharp increase from 368 cases in all of 2023.
About two-thirds of those affected are under the age of 10.
Health workers say the current outbreak, which started in the West Midlands last year, has now spread to every region of the country.
London has become the latest hotspot, and five-month-old Margot House is among those who have recently contracted the highly contagious disease.
Georgia, head of revenue at a tech company from Clapham, southwest London, said: “Our doctor told us that while it would be horrible for Margot, she would be okay.
“But it was heartbreaking to see someone so small hooked up to all those machines.”
Doctors told me that people just don’t seem to understand how serious measles is
Georgia House
At just five months old, Margot is too young to be vaccinated, but the option is available for all children over one.
“It’s so frustrating because this is all preventable,” Georgia said.
“The reason we’ve got this spike is because of a drop in people getting vaccinated.
“The UK has lost its herd immunity.
“People who aren’t vaccinated are risking the lives of these little ones – and the lives of vulnerable, immunocompromised people.”
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Georgia and her husband, James first noticed their baby girl was unwell when she developed a cough a cold, and a rash.
But when they took Margot to two separate GPs, both dismissed it as either a typical cold or another allergic reaction to nuts – for which she’d been to hospital on April 2.
However, the family received a letter saying Margot had been exposed to measles during that visit, so they rushed her back to Chelsea and Westminster on April 17.
Georgia and James discovered Margot was the fourth paediatric case that day, they say.
“The sentiment at the hospital was definitely anger,” Georgia said.
“Doctors told me that people just don’t seem to understand how serious measles is.
“And people avoiding vaccinations has been devastating because we used to not have any cases in the UK.
“I don’t know if people are wary of vaccines after Covid but please, please get vaccinated.
“This is completely safe, And it could save lives.”
Measles vaccinations in the UK were introduced in 1968 and, until recently, the widespread take-up had all but eradicated the disease until recently.
In recent weeks, hundreds of children have contracted the disease, and health officials have warned that “many thousands of children around the country are still not fully vaccinated and may be at risk of serious illness or life-long complications”.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “Numbers of measles cases are rising across the country, with a particular increase seen in London in recent weeks.
“Parents should check their child’s Red Book now to ensure that children are up to date with the MMR and other routine vaccines. If you’re unsure, contact your GP practice to check.”
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Margot is home now, but measles can be deadly or otherwise lead to lifelong disabilities.
It can affect the lungs and brain and cause pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures.
Symptoms of measles include fever, a cough, and a cold.
Small white spots may appear inside the mouth, and a blotchy red or brown rash usually appears after a few days.
The rash typically starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.
The MMR vaccine is free to everyone on the NHS and is available from GP surgeries.
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How can I look after a child with measles?
While most measles sufferers recover, it can be very unpleasant to endure, especially for youngsters.
It can, however, usually be treated at home and will pass within a week to 10 days.
The NHS says it can help your child to:
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve a high temperature – but do not give aspirin to children under 16 years
- Have crusts from their eyes gently removed with cotton wool soaked in warm water
Children should stay off nursery or school for at least four days after the rash appears.
How can I stop my child catching measles?
The best way to protect your child from measles, for which there is no treatment or cure, is by getting them vaccinated against it.
This means two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
It’s typically given to babies and young tots through the NHS vaccination schedule.
The first dose can be administered when your child is one and the second when they’re three years and four months.
If your child has missed these jabs, you can still ask your GP surgery to give them.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Official figures show uptake of the vaccine is at its lowest point in more than a decade.
A staggering 3.4million under-16s in Britain are at risk of catching the virus as they have only had one or neither MMR jab.
Expert answers MMR questions
TO help deal with parental concerns, Professor Helen Bedford, a specialist in child public health at University College London, tells you all you need to know about the MMR vaccine.
When is the vaccine given?
The MMR vaccine is part of the NHS Routine Childhood Immunisation Programme.
It’s typically given via a single shot into the muscle of the thigh or the upper arm.
The first dose is offered to children at the age of one (babies younger than this may have some protection from antibodies passed on from their mother, which start to wear off at about 12 months.)
The second dose is then offered to children aged three years and four months before they start school.
To check to see if you or your child have had the recommended two doses of MMR, you can look at their/your Personal Child Health Record, also known as the red book.
If you can’t find the red book, call your GP and ask them for your vaccine records.
You are never too old to catch up with your MMR vaccine.
If you see from your vaccination records that you did not receive two doses as a child, you can book a vaccination appointment.
Is the vaccine safe?
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective at preventing measles, mumps and rubella.
In the UK, we started using the jab in 1988, so we have decades of experience using it.
The jab is made from much-weakened live versions of the three viruses.
This triggers the immune system to produce antibodies that are protective in the face of future exposure.
It takes up to three weeks after having the vaccine to be fully protected.
Like any vaccine, the MMR jab can cause side-effects, which are usually mild and go away very quickly.
This includes rash, high temperature, loss of appetite and a general feeling of being unwell for about two or three days.
There is also a very small chance children can have a severe allergic reaction.
But compared to the complications of measles, there is no contest that vaccination is by far the safest and most effective route to take.
Why was it linked with autism?
In 1998, Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues published a now-discredited paper in medical journal The Lancet.
The paper suggested that the MMR vaccine might be associated with autism and a form of bowel disease.
It led to a sharp decline in vaccination rates.
Even at the time, the research was considered poor.
The Lancet retracted the story in 2010 after Wakefield’s article was found “dishonest” by the General Medical Council.
He was later struck off and subsequently, in 2011, the British Medical Journal declared the story fraudulent.
Does it contain ingredients from pigs?
There are two types of MMR jabs: One with gelatin (animal/pig collagen), and one without it.
For some religious groups, the inclusion of pig products is not acceptable.
Those people should ask for the vaccine without gelatin.