How frequently have I heard someone declare, ‘Measles? It’s a trivial matter. It only affects children.’ Even A. A. Milne made light of it: ‘Christopher Robin had wheezles and sneezles. They tucked him into his bed.’ Another line from the book goes, ‘They wondered if wheezles could turn into measles, if sneezles would turn into mumps.’ Christopher Robin wasn’t anxious. He just had a cold. However, the UK Health Security Agency is adamant about reminding us of the seriousness and potential fatality of measles. Just last week, it issued a warning that Britain is on the verge of a measles outbreak, expected to affect up to 160,000 individuals in London alone. Approximately 20 to 40 percent of infected children require hospitalization, with around two out of 1,000 fatalities, particularly among children under the age of five. It’s worth noting that measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world.
I retain a vivid memory of experiencing the disease in 1953 when I was merely three years old. It’s my earliest childhood recollection that remains as vivid as if it occurred yesterday. I recall my father carrying my little bed into the living room of my grandparents’ house, where we lived during the first few years of my life. The doctor had instructed my parents to keep me in a darkened room and provide constant supervision. Exposure to any light could result in blindness. Silence was necessary to protect my hearing. Any worsening of the fever had to be reported, although there was no cure then, as there still isn’t now. Somehow, I survived the ordeal, but several children among my parents’ friends were not as fortunate. Measles caused the asthma that has plagued me throughout my life, along with recurring sinusitis and rhinitis. Nevertheless, I’m still here, 70 years later. It’s essential for all of us to remember that measles is a deadly disease. I was taken aback when Roald Dahl, not prone to tears, broke down as he recounted the death of his seven-year-old daughter, Olivia, from measles encephalitis in 1962. The UK didn’t have a measles vaccination until 1968.
In 1988, the MMR combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine was introduced in the UK. Few were as fervent proponents of measles vaccination as Dahl. In his poignant open letter to children titled ‘Measles: A Dangerous Illness,’ he shared Olivia’s story. He wrote, ‘Then, one morning, when she was well on the road to recovery, I was sitting on her bed showing her how to create little animals out of colored pipe cleaners. When it was her turn to make one, I noticed that her fingers and mind were not functioning in sync, and she couldn’t do anything. Shortly after, she grew unconscious. Within twelve hours, she had passed away.’ Dahl highlighted that no cure existed but made a crucial point, ‘On the other hand, today there is something parents can do to prevent this type of tragedy from befalling their child. They can ensure that their child is immunized against measles.’ His words remain as relevant today as when he penned them in 1986. So, why do so many parents resist vaccinating their children? MMR uptake is at its lowest level in a decade, with only 85 percent of English children receiving both doses by the age of five (75 percent in London). This falls short of the World Health Organization’s 95 percent vaccination target and compromises herd immunity.
My children, born in the 1980s, were of the right age when the MMR vaccine was introduced. I didn’t hesitate to have them vaccinated for all diseases, just as my mother insisted on my immunization in my late teens when vaccines became available through the NHS free of charge. Neither my children nor I experienced any negative effects. Then, in 1998, physician Andrew Wakefield emerged, and everything changed. His study, published in the medical journal The Lancet, claimed a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism. However, he was proven wrong, and his research was officially discredited. Wakefield was subsequently struck off, but his words had already caused a significant decline in vaccine uptake. The NHS warns that those most susceptible to the current measles outbreak are individuals aged 19 to 25 who were not given the MMR vaccine by their parents. I suspect that some parents still believe Wakefield’s fraudulent claims. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have further empowered the anti-vaxxers. It was an unsettling and confusing time. We questioned who qualified for vaccination and at what age. We were unsure of vaccination locations. Could we trust a vaccine developed so quickly? Were we willing to endure long queues? Furthermore, regular medical services were overwhelmed, and GP surgeries were effectively closed. It likely proved challenging to secure a vaccination appointment for a child, resulting in many missing out. We had entered an era where significant risks from deadly childhood diseases were virtually non-existent, thanks to scientific advancements. Let us not regress to those dreadful days of the past.
Now, the NHS implores parents to ensure their children catch up on missed vaccinations, and I urge every parent to fiercely fight for their little ones to receive the MMR vaccine. I also encourage young adults to protect themselves. The year 1968 brought about a change – no father had to endure what Roald Dahl experienced, nor did any mother have to display a photograph of her deceased six-year-old daughter on the wall, as my great aunt did. We had entered an era where significant risks from deadly childhood diseases were virtually non-existent, thanks to scientific advancements. Let us not regress to those dreadful days of the past.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
