- Alder Hey Children’s Hospital has warned that a measles outbreak on Merseyside is causing several children to become seriously unwell and driving an increase in A&E admissions.
- The top NHS hospital attributes the rise in cases to declining measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage across England, which currently stands at 88 per cent, below the 95 per cent World Health Organisation target.
- Senior directors at Alder Hey have issued an urgent plea for parents to get their children vaccinated to help combat the spread of the highly contagious disease.
- The UK Health Security Agency reported 133 measles cases between 26 May and 29 June, and 420 cases in England from January to May 2025, with the majority affecting children aged 10 and under.
- Health officials, including Liverpool City Council and the UK Health Security Agency, are concerned that low vaccine uptake could lead to further outbreaks, especially as families travel during summer.
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