Mother urges vaccinations after daughter’s death from measles complication
Mum calls for vaccinations as measles rates hit decade low
A mother is urging parents to vaccinate their children after her 10-year-old daughter died from a rare measles complication. Becky Archer’s daughter, Renae, contracted measles at five months old, too early for vaccination. Renae later received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 months, but she developed a rare brain disease related to her earlier infection and died at age 10.
Ms Archer now calls on parents to vaccinate their children to prevent the spread of diseases. Recent data reveals that childhood vaccine uptake for diseases like polio and measles is at its lowest in over a decade. She believes her daughter might not have caught measles if more children were vaccinated.
The NHS recommends parents vaccinate their children against various childhood diseases. However, 2023/24 data indicates no vaccines met the target needed to prevent disease spread among children. Ms Archer highlights the importance of vaccinations, noting that if other children were vaccinated, Renae might have been spared from measles and still be alive today.
Becky Archer's daughter died after contracting measles. The percentage of children receiving vaccines against deadly diseases such as polio and measles has fallen to its lowest level for more than a decade.
She tells @skysarahjane more.#SJUK https://t.co/lISvhw7rHG
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Ms Archer shared that Renae, who was always smiling, contracted measles at five months but appeared healthy shortly after. When she was 10, Renae suffered a seizure at school. She continued to have seizures for about three weeks, leading to an MRI revealing brain swelling. It took nearly a month to diagnose Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), a fatal complication of measles causing intense muscle jerks and seizures. Renae passed away about a week after the diagnosis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that at least 95% of children need full vaccination doses to achieve herd immunity and prevent disease spread. Data shows that in 2023/24, only 91.9% of five-year-olds had received one dose of the MMR vaccine, the lowest since 2010/11, and just 83.9% had received both doses, the lowest since 2009/10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why is it important to vaccinate children against measles?
Vaccination can prevent the spread of measles and save lives, as highlighted by the tragic case of Renae.
What happened to Renae after she contracted measles?
Renae developed a fatal brain disease called SSPE years after contracting measles as a baby.
How can vaccinating children help other people?
Vaccinating children helps achieve herd immunity, reducing disease transmission and protecting those too young or unable to be vaccinated.
What is SSPE, and how is it related to measles?
SSPE is a rare, usually fatal brain disease that can appear years after a measles infection.
What are the current vaccination rates for measles in 2023/24?
Only 91.9% of five-year-olds received one MMR dose, and 83.9% received both, the lowest in over a decade.
