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Cases of measles in school

180 replies

Savanna669 · 20/01/2026 17:36

My DS son has seen two cases of measles. In nursery but apparently they have siblings in different year groups. Children who are immuneocomprised are being told to have three weeks off. Parents are keeping their kids off now due to various things. school is stopping mass gatherings such as assemblies. Should we worry?

OP posts:
Ophir · 19/02/2026 19:24

Carbooboo · 19/02/2026 15:34

What about communities who dont take vaccines for cultural reasons?
I think we would risk discriminating against minority groups if we banned non vaccinated children from schools.

I think if people want to live here then it’s important they are very much included in vaccinations

RampantIvy · 19/02/2026 23:22

Carbooboo · 19/02/2026 15:34

What about communities who dont take vaccines for cultural reasons?
I think we would risk discriminating against minority groups if we banned non vaccinated children from schools.

What cultural reasons are they specifically?

Mumofteentwins · 19/02/2026 23:32

Savanna669 · 20/01/2026 18:44

Worryingly, my friends Dchild is in nursery and the parent of the child actually tried to bring their child into school this morning. Obviously the child was turned away but parents over heard and he said it didn’t matter as the rash was under clothes.

I wish people could be arrested for this.

nocoolnamesleft · 19/02/2026 23:37

RampantIvy · 19/02/2026 23:22

What cultural reasons are they specifically?

I'd like to know that too. My experience of recent refugees from disadvantaged countries, for instance, is that they're delighted to have access to healthcare for their children, and are well up for every immunisation going as they have seen so many children die of preventable disease in refugee camps.

Thechaseison71 · 19/02/2026 23:40

HoppityBun · 20/01/2026 20:37

It’s not only the risk of death. There’s a risk hearing loss as well as of brain damage. think that many are unaware of this

Yes I have the hearing loss from measles . And was vaccinated

BreakingBroken · 19/02/2026 23:46

risk to pregnant women not just children,
i have a cousin who had encephalitis from measles as a baby, with long term cognitive effects.

Contrarymary30 · 19/02/2026 23:58

HoppityBun · 20/01/2026 20:37

It’s not only the risk of death. There’s a risk hearing loss as well as of brain damage. think that many are unaware of this

I had measles in the 1950s and lost the hearing in one ear . It should be a prerequisite for children to be vaccinated before they can enter nursery or school .

OhDear111 · 20/02/2026 00:29

@Carbooboo So how does Australia manage then? British laws are what matters (if they made them) and a government has a duty to keep its people safe. So that comes first over personal preference.

Thatcannotberight · 20/02/2026 00:40

OhDear111 · 20/02/2026 00:29

@Carbooboo So how does Australia manage then? British laws are what matters (if they made them) and a government has a duty to keep its people safe. So that comes first over personal preference.

Looking at vaccination rates in Australia ( around 93%) that's comparable to Cornwall. Apparently, unvaccinated children can go to school in Australia too.

Thechaseison71 · 20/02/2026 14:43

Contrarymary30 · 19/02/2026 23:58

I had measles in the 1950s and lost the hearing in one ear . It should be a prerequisite for children to be vaccinated before they can enter nursery or school .

That still wouldnt have helped me

OhDear111 · 20/02/2026 16:01

@Thatcannotberight That rate is significantly above the rates where there are measles outbreaks here. Has there been one in Cornwall? It might vary by state in Aus. Victoria says by law they must have an immunization history cert to enrol in primary school. The Australians want 95% and they aren’t far off it. Our target is also 95% but we know some areas are way below that so we need some tough love.

Contrarymary30 · 20/02/2026 16:02

Ophir · 19/02/2026 19:24

I think if people want to live here then it’s important they are very much included in vaccinations

What would be a cultural reason for not being vaccinated. ?

Thatcannotberight · 20/02/2026 16:40

There hasn't been a notable outbreak in Cornwall, the worst figures for last year in the SW are in Bristol. (47). There were very few cases in the North East of the country too. I could hazard a guess as to why the extremities of the country have fewer cases, but I'll let others draw their own conclusions.

JohnofWessex · 20/02/2026 16:45

How about developing a vaccination against stupidity?

My personal view is that there are some vaccines that should be compulsory for children unless medically contra indicated.

Its worth pointing out that children can be and are taken into care if they are not provided with appropriate healthcare

RampantIvy · 20/02/2026 16:54

Contrarymary30 · 20/02/2026 16:02

What would be a cultural reason for not being vaccinated. ?

A couple of us have asked this and no-one has replied yet.

I understand the objection if the vaccine contained pork or other animal products for example, but I think pork and bovine free vaccinations have now been developed.

Interestingly, the British Fatwa Council has stated that vaccines containing porcine gelatine are permissible for use due to the necessity of protecting against illness, and cccording to Jewish laws, there is no issue with pork or animal-derived ingredients in non-oral products (such as injections or nasal sprays.

FreshInks · 20/02/2026 16:58

JohnofWessex · 20/02/2026 16:45

How about developing a vaccination against stupidity?

My personal view is that there are some vaccines that should be compulsory for children unless medically contra indicated.

Its worth pointing out that children can be and are taken into care if they are not provided with appropriate healthcare

Suggesting that children should be taken into care if they are not vaccinated is an extreme response.

AgnesMcDoo · 20/02/2026 17:02

As long as your child is vaccinated don’t worry about it.

the ones who need to worry are those who can’t be vaccinated e.g immunosuppressed and who have to rely on herd immunity

the ones who should worry but won’t because they are idiots are those who’ve chosen not to vaccinate because they’ve done their Dr Google ‘research’ backed up by videos they’ve watched on YouTube

AgnesMcDoo · 20/02/2026 17:03

FreshInks · 20/02/2026 16:58

Suggesting that children should be taken into care if they are not vaccinated is an extreme response.

They are being neglected and raised by idiots so it’s not a completely ridiculous suggestion

FaintingGoats · 20/02/2026 17:06

shouldn’t be able to access the school system without appropriate vaccines but it’ll never happen because rights.

SecretSquirrelLoo · 20/02/2026 17:07

If there’s a 5% risk of contracting the disease if exposed even if vaccinated, then about 5% of the vaccinated children who are exposed at the school will catch it. And most of the unvaccinated ones, who will also expose more kids before they show symptoms.

That would worry me a lot. I’d probably keep mine at home, especially the younger one who catches everything.

Modern sanitation and medicine are the best things we have! I’m so grateful we don’t need to lose half our children before they turn 5 anymore. It’s just mind blowing that people choose not to take advantage of this safety.

Thatcannotberight · 20/02/2026 17:09

RampantIvy · 20/02/2026 16:54

A couple of us have asked this and no-one has replied yet.

I understand the objection if the vaccine contained pork or other animal products for example, but I think pork and bovine free vaccinations have now been developed.

Interestingly, the British Fatwa Council has stated that vaccines containing porcine gelatine are permissible for use due to the necessity of protecting against illness, and cccording to Jewish laws, there is no issue with pork or animal-derived ingredients in non-oral products (such as injections or nasal sprays.

The lowest vaccination rates are amongst African and Caribbean ethnicities. According to the BBC article, it's because of mistrust of institutions, lack of representation in clinical trials, some religious suspicion, and racism.

HappyValentinesDogtanian · 20/02/2026 17:10

Dodoegg4 · 20/01/2026 17:40

And the immunocompromised children and parents who have little choice….

And babies too young to be fully vaccinated.

But ultimately, if nearly eradicated diseases start to come back because of too many people not vaccinating, then we’re all at risk because then those diseases have the chance to mutate again. It’s fucking ridiculous.

HappyValentinesDogtanian · 20/02/2026 17:11

AgnesMcDoo · 20/02/2026 17:02

As long as your child is vaccinated don’t worry about it.

the ones who need to worry are those who can’t be vaccinated e.g immunosuppressed and who have to rely on herd immunity

the ones who should worry but won’t because they are idiots are those who’ve chosen not to vaccinate because they’ve done their Dr Google ‘research’ backed up by videos they’ve watched on YouTube

And babies, too young to be fully vaccinated?

Grapewrath · 20/02/2026 17:11

My child caught measles from a vaccinated child after said child came back from abroad. Another vaccinated child also caught it from the vaccinated child.
I have no idea if the vaccinated kids had a easier time than mine but all were off school for about a week.
My kids were unwell at the same level they were with chicken pox tbh. It was unpleasant but I wasn’t worried as such. Public Health England told me complications were rare when I spoke with them, which surprised me given we are told they are common.
Wgst I will say is that it’s highly contagious so hard to avoid- all of mine had it within a few days of each other. I had bloods to check I was immune- I am but I wasn’t vaccinated and nor do I recall having measles. Odd.
Hope that helps and I hope your dc stay welll

Thatcannotberight · 20/02/2026 17:14

HappyValentinesDogtanian · 20/02/2026 17:10

And babies too young to be fully vaccinated.

But ultimately, if nearly eradicated diseases start to come back because of too many people not vaccinating, then we’re all at risk because then those diseases have the chance to mutate again. It’s fucking ridiculous.

Measles is genetically stable and shouldn't mutate in ways that make the vaccine ineffective.