Parents urged to get children vaccinated as child with measles dies in North West
According to The Sunday Times newspaper, the child was ill with measles and other health problems and was receiving treatment at the Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
Measles, an infection that typically starts with cold-like symptoms followed by a rash and sometimes small spots in the mouth, is contagious and can lead to serious problems such as meningitis, blindness and seizures if it spreads to other parts of the body.
A statement from the Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust said: 'To respect patient confidentiality, we can't comment on individual cases.
'We are concerned about the increasing number of children and young people who are contracting measles. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness which can cause children to be seriously unwell, requiring hospital treatment, and in rare cases, death.
'The number of children being treated at Alder Hey for effects and complications of measles is increasing (we have treated 17 since June).
'We treat children with a range of conditions and illnesses in our hospital, including those with compromised immunity due to other health issues, making them more susceptible to infections, including measles.
'We can prevent people, including children, from contracting measles through vaccination. Please protect yourself and vulnerable children and young people by ensuring you are fully vaccinated.'
The child is believed to be the second to succumb to an acute measles infection in Britain this decade.
The news comes amid a decline in the uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, as experts said only 84% of five-year-old children in England have had the two doses, with uptake 'much lower' in areas like Liverpool and parts of London.
Prof Helen Bedford, professor of children's health at UCL (University College London), said: 'It is hugely concerning but not at all surprising that we are continuing to see outbreaks of measles, with very sadly news that a child in Merseyside has died from the infection.
'To stop outbreaks of this highly infectious disease we need to have sustained 95% uptake of two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, but uptake has been lower than this for some years.
'In England only 84% of five-year-old children have had the two doses and in some parts of the country, including Liverpool and parts of London, uptake is much lower.'
Dr David Elliman, honorary senior associate professor at the same university, said: 'Uptake of MMR vaccine has been falling around the world and in the USA there have been three deaths in the current outbreak.
'Any death of a child, with so many years left to live, is a tragedy, but this is more so as we have a very effective vaccine, with an excellent safety profile and if enough children had had the vaccine, this death would have been avoided.
'Not only does the vaccine protect the person receiving it, but it helps protect those who cannot receive the vaccine because of a medical condition or they are too young.'
A Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) report released earlier this month determined uptake of vaccines in the UK has stalled over the last decade and is, in many cases, declining.
None of the routine childhood vaccinations have met the target for 95% coverage since 2021, meaning youngsters are at risk of catching illnesses such as measles, meningitis and whooping cough.
The report said while some families are hesitant to vaccinate due to fears about the jabs, many face issues that could be resolved with more support, including difficulties booking and attending appointments and a lack of continuity of NHS care, with many parents seeing a different GP or clinician at each visit.
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