The upsetting news of a child dying from measles in Liverpool at the weekend should serve as a wake-up call for health leaders and politicians. Preventable diseases are on the rise in Britain, while vaccine uptake remains a problem in the NHS. Though we do not know the full details of this case due to patient confidentiality, it is a travesty that any child in the UK should be at risk of falling seriously ill from a disease which is preventable with modern vaccinations.

MMR vaccination uptake in Liverpool for children under the age of five reportedly stands at around 73%, which is lower than the rest of the North West. The problem goes further afield, however. Last year in Birmingham, where I was working as a doctor, there were multiple cases of measles leading to hospital admissions. Birmingham Children’s Hospital was reported to be inundated, and the West Midlands experienced over 300 cases. In the region, uptake of the MMR vaccine was around 76% — far below the 95% needed for herd immunity — as measles has high rates of transmission. It was even worse in Hackney in London, with only 56% of five-year-olds fully immunized.

It’s clear that urgent action is needed to raise vaccination rates before more children are put at risk. Last year, MMR catch-up campaigns helped curb outbreaks, but relying on reactive measures is unsustainable. The priority must now be prevention and boosting routine uptake before cases spiral to the point where emergency interventions are required.

Vaccine skepticism hasn’t arisen in a vacuum. It’s partly a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, when people’s liberties were impeded and many felt they did not have a choice in whether or not they should take the vaccine. Changing guidance, government hypocrisy, and mixed messages around lockdowns and vaccine safety all contributed to a lack of transparency which has left lasting damage.

This erosion of trust is also fueled by a new wave of pseudo-health influencers spreading misinformation across social media. Repeated exposure to misinformation can foster belief, even when the claims are baseless. The problem isn’t confined to the UK. In the US, political figures such as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr have amplified discredited theories linking the MMR vaccine to autism, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary.

Going forward, we need cross-party consensus on this issue, along with a greater effort from healthcare professionals and leaders. Condemnation of disinformation should come from the very top and across the political spectrum. For all the posters in hospitals and GP practices advising parents to get their children vaccinated, the messaging doesn’t go much further.

The NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan, published earlier this month, suggests that a bigger health push is on the way, and vaccinations will play a significant role in this. But without the right education and media campaigns convincing Britons to get vaccinated, patients, including young children, will remain at risk.

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Dr Ammad Butt is a freelance writer and doctor working in the UK.

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