- Modelling by Imperial College London warns that hundreds of people, primarily unvaccinated babies, could die from measles in England over the next 20 years if vaccination rates do not significantly improve.
- The research suggests two major outbreaks could result in an additional 390,000 cases, with current vaccination rates for the two required doses standing at around 85 per cent, below the 95 per cent WHO target.
- The economic impact of these outbreaks, including hospitalisation and productivity losses, is estimated to be £290 million over two decades.
- This warning follows a recent child death and several serious illnesses at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital due to measles, prompting calls from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for urgent government action.
- Experts highlight that low vaccination uptake stems from various issues, including difficulties accessing services and misinformation, and stress the need for sustained high vaccine coverage to prevent large-scale outbreaks.
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