The first thing I should say is that I’m 64 years old and in excellent health. Thankfully, this turned out to be the case. It all started on a Tuesday in early August after a long day of work as a digital consultant. Exhausted, I went straight to bed. The next morning, I woke up coughing and feeling miserable with a temperature of 38°C. I had lost my sense of taste and smell, but my Covid test came back negative. Despite this, my temperature continued to rise and reach 39°C by Friday. I was plagued by an intense cough and non-stop sneezing. I called 111, but their questions seemed irrelevant and their advice was to take paracetamol. I felt increasingly scared as I experienced wheezing for the first time in years, so I decided to brave a visit to the GP.
I was seen by a young doctor who showed no interest and dismissed my symptoms as a mere virus. Despite expressing how ill I felt, I was made to feel like I was exaggerating. The weekend was a nightmare. My temperature reached a high 40°C on Sunday, a dangerous level for an adult. I had stopped eating and even drinking water was painful due to the condition of my mouth and throat. Disturbingly, purple pinpricks appeared all over my chest and cheeks. Fearing meningitis, I pressed a glass against them, but I couldn’t determine if they faded when pressure was applied. My mind was foggy, and I drifted in and out of sleep.
On Monday, I managed to find a leftover mask from the lockdown and attempted to keep my distance from people since I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I just wanted to lie down on the cool floor, but I forced myself to stay upright. Another unfamiliar GP examined me, but he showed no concern despite the visible rash on my body. However, I insisted on being referred to the hospital and stumbled outside to book an Uber to the A&E department.
After waiting for about an hour, a nurse allowed me to lie down in a side room. My temperature was close to 40°C, and I was severely dehydrated, so they immediately put me on a drip. One of the first questions they asked was if I had been vaccinated against measles. I knew I hadn’t, unlike my younger brother, who received the vaccine in 1970 when he was eight years old. The doctor informed me that they were doing everything they could to diagnose me and that I would be moved to intensive care if my condition didn’t improve.
For five days, no one could figure out what was wrong with me. All the blood tests and chest X-rays came back negative. My three children were frightened, but they tried to remain strong for me. My eldest son even took time off work to be by my side morning and evening. My daughter left her toddler at home to keep me company and read me ghost stories. At one point, I woke up to a doctor telling me they were still trying to diagnose me and that I almost ended up in intensive care after a terrifying moment where I struggled to breathe due to my swollen throat. I coughed until I regained my breath.
Finally, after five long days, just as I was starting to feel a tiny bit better, I received the diagnosis—measles. The doctor explained that it took so long to identify because measles has become incredibly rare, and few medical professionals have experience with it. The diagnosis never crossed anyone’s mind during my hospitalization. Instead, they questioned me about Weil’s disease, hives, and other autoimmune conditions.
Prior to Andrew Wakefield’s discredited report in 1998 linking the MMR vaccine to autism, I was relatively safe from measles due to high herd immunity. However, even though I advocated for vaccination, I never thought to get the MMR vaccine for myself. Thanks to Wakefield’s report and the subsequent decline in herd immunity, diseases like measles have made a comeback. This lack of trust in vaccines has spilled over to the Covid vaccine, with over 1.5 million UK adults refusing to get vaccinated.
The Daily Mail reported in May 2023 on the dangerously low MMR vaccine uptake, with only 60% of five-year-olds in Hackney receiving both doses. Measles is highly contagious, and by July, an outbreak was announced in London, where I presumably contracted the disease. If I had known about the outbreak, I would have immediately gotten the MMR vaccine. Since my experience, one of my friends has already received the jab.
Without the MMR vaccine, the risk of infecting pregnant women with rubella increases, putting their babies in danger. Mumps can render boys infertile if contracted at the wrong time. Additionally, measles can cause severe complications, especially in children. The vaccine has prevented 4,500 deaths in the UK since its introduction. Although I’m hopeful about my recovery, there may be lasting effects. Three weeks after I was discharged, the doctor warned me about post-viral fatigue, and it will be some time before I can fully resume my normal activities.
Regardless of your age, it’s essential to check your vaccination records and get the MMR vaccine if you’re uncertain. By spreading the word and achieving the target of 95% vaccine coverage for herd immunity across the UK, you can help prevent people of all ages from becoming seriously ill and save children’s lives.
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