Measles in 2017

[Beansonapost]

Just saw a tweet by NHS about outbreaks in Leeds and Liverpool ...in people who haven't had the MMR vaccine.

Why is this happening in 2017 Britain?

I know why, but why?!!! I just can't get my head around the no vaccine logic 😐?

I'm worried about my 8 month old and the rest of the population who are immuno compromised ... I grew up in a "third world country" and the last I heard of measles was in the 90s. Chicken pox is still a fairly common illness there, but not measles. Vaccines are non-negotiable and all children must be before entering school... as a "third world country" resources aren't there to manage an outbreak of any sort, hence the policy.

Is this a developed country problem? Or is it that we've forgotten what these diseases are really like?

“Or is it that we've forgotten what these diseases are really like?”

I think to a certain extent this is true. I also think that people feel that they can educate themselves via the internet, and then access all sorts of dodgy websites with woo information that hasn’t been scientifically peer reviewed and assessed.

“I for one am thankful that my children and I will never get polio...”

Same here. I am old enough to remember seeing children in leg braces because they had contracted polio.

I caught measles myself as a child after getting the MMR... so no I don't put it all down to antivaxxers.

And I am well aware vaccinations don't prevent you getting something , but in most cases makes illness less impactful.

I simply don't understand the resurgence of things like this. I don't especially in a first world country.

@carefreeeee the health teams here have said differently to me. I was discussing it with them yesterday and today. They said the majority they have seen have been unvaccinated. The Kensington and Fairfield area of Liverpool is the most deprived (also one of the most in the country) so that does make sense also about not being arsed.

I had measles as a child, and German measles. I predate the MMR. DD has had all her vaccinations.

I have had people tell me in all seriousness that they are 'only' childhood illnesses. I believe a lot of people think that the poor child will only be off colour for a couple of days and then will be ok. In actual fact all of these illnesses can have complications and even in an otherwise healthy person can make them feel very ill. My sister caught mumps and it went to her ovaries; she is infertile because of that . I agree thc, at people ought to consider what life was like before vaccinations, , look at parish records and you often see whole families dying 'in the smallpox'. We don't get that now thank goodness. And don't get me started on the autism and MMR argument ; autism has always been around ( Isaac Newton probably had it) , we are just much better at recognising it.

I think we were mass vaccinated t school by the way! No trip the the health centre required, just consent from parent.

caroelle I trust that your GP has actually tested you for Whooping cough as it is a notifiable disease - at least it was when my DH had it a few years ago. We had the Public Health office on the phone asking questions.

Lonicera I also had German Measles as a baby, Measles as a small child and Mumps as a 7 year old as I assume I was also pre MMR vaccinations (I'm 53). Fortunately I survived them all with no ill effects. My 2 DCs had their vaccinations although DS didn't have the MMR until he was 16 due to the publishing of the Wakefield report coinciding with his vaccination being due. He also has a diagnosis of ASD which was obviously NOT caused by his MMR jab.

I'm 45 and was vaccinated against measles as a baby as a single dose

I'm the same age as you and I was not aware a measles vaccination even existed back then. Or did you not grow up in the UK?

I only found out a few weeks ago dm didn’t vaccinate me 😳 can’t believe I didn’t have a clue before that !!

Just wanted to say that the MMR vaccine is available in Romania at least so I'm not that sure that's the cause.

Also, some medical professionals hear what they bloody want just like the one that refused to believe me that I'd never had TB or even knew anyone that did .

It's happening because people are total idiots who have it too good. All idiotic Mums believing in the crap about vaccines causing autism, chemtrails and conspiracies who got so much used to the herd immunity that they forgot it took them to disturb it.
All those dead or very sick children only have the anti-vac fucking stupid idiots to blame.

DS2 has had measles and he had the MMR. This was in about 2000. He was so, so ill.

Me and my siblings had the measles vaccination as kids but we all got measles twice. The second time my mother caught it too. That’s the only time I remember my dad taking time off work because she was ill. And my god she was ill.

I think we’ve forgotten how bad these illnesses are, tbh.

my mum nearly died of measles when she was small, before the NHS too.

I had to delay dd as I was puking with ds at the time and not capable of going out. then there was a query whether she should have it due to egg allergy.

I had mumps as a child it was grim. I was stiff and very poorly. my grandmother came to help look afterme.

I do remember the orange flavour aspirins though. back when aspirins were not known to be unsafe for children.

Measles vaccine been available in UK since 1968. The uptake was poor because it was just seen as a childhood illness and not much to worry about. In 50s there were around 500,000 cases of measles per year with about 100 deaths attributed to the disease or complications.

In 1988 there was still 80, 000 cases with 16 attributable deaths related to the disease or complications. It’s a nasty illness and children without complications can still be quite poorly, with horrid sticky eyes and a typically measly expression.

Rubella on the other hand is a very, very mild disease except if contracted during the first trimester. Then it can result in deaf blind babies - luckily something we rarely see nowadays.

...and that's why all possible should be vaccinated against rubella, so a woman who may not even know she is pregnant is less likely to catch it and end up with a destroyed child.

Herd immunity.

Yes, vaccines have risks. Much lower risks for most than the diseases. Nothing is totally safe, life is fatal.

My mum caught rubella when pregnant and only discovered when she was around 5 months pregnant . The dr told her there's no chance that the baby wouldn't have been severely disabled.

My grandmother was deaf in one ear from age 9 due to measles. Dh caught mumps on the bus in his early twenties the strain that makes men infertile. He was very ill and very scared.

I was bloody poorly with measles; in hospital with either meningitis or encephalitis (DF can't remember which ). I was only about 3 but I have memories of my parents trying to look at me and me screaming and screaming because the light hurt my eyes so badly. My parents were frantic. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. And it's avoidable for so many people!

Both of my DDs had the MMR in Romania when they were babies. At that time (late 90s, early 2000s) a child couldn't be admitted to school or nursery without having had their jabs. So less hysteria about "immigrants from Romania" spreading the disease, please.

I had measles as a child in the 60s and am losing the sight in one eye as a result.

One of the interesting things about most anti vaxxers is the way they stampede to the nearest hospital/GP to get their kids vaccinated when there is an outbreak. These are not generally people who have the courage of their convictions (or their "facts" when push comes to shove).

Roma children were routinely barred from the Romanian education system and had poor access to healthcare during the 1970s/80s/90s so this may account for the discrepancy.

Difficulties that Roma have getting any health care in Eastern Europe, documented here. I'm sure there's research to say how difficult it can be for their kids to register for school, too.

But Romania has a well documented epidemic where too many children have died sadly. That's not hysteria about immigrants , that's looking at why Romania has such an issue compared to other countries (Italy and Germany have also had outbreaks but the numbers aren't as bad).

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/4c87ae80-7760-11e7-90c0-90a9d1bc9691

Roma are the most marginalised impoverished and persecuted ethnic group in Europe. The article I link to also talks about specific religious groups, Travellers and hippies who have been at heart of outbreaks. Marginalised groups, either by choice or forced to be marginalised.

The issues with Roma is that within their own culture it's amazingly frowned upon to access services (medical, school etc) and it often leads to exclusion from their own community. That's even before you touch upon bigotry and racism.

As a side note, there's specially reserved places for Roma children in highschools for example, but al least from what I've seen it's amazingly ineffective.