48301761

England’s Measles Hotspots Revealed: Urgent Call to Boost Childhood Vaccinations

The tragic death of a child suffering from measles and other health complications at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool has cast a spotlight on a troubling rise in measles cases across England. Alder Hey reported treating 17 children for measles-related complications since June, underscoring the growing threat posed by this preventable disease.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting addressed Parliament following the recent death, emphasizing that “no child in this country should be dying of measles.” He called for a renewed national commitment to increase vaccination rates.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides over 95% protection against these illnesses. Yet, vaccination coverage has fallen below recommended levels in England. Not a single council has reached the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 95% vaccination target necessary to achieve herd immunity and stop disease transmission.

READ MORE: Somerset Motorcycle Café Garage 6 Delivers Premium Bikes and Brews

READ MORE: I’m an Australian Tourist – This UK City Blew Me Away

Alarmingly, 22 council areas have MMR vaccination rates below 75%. This decline has coincided with a rise in measles cases: 529 confirmed laboratory diagnoses so far this year, primarily affecting children aged 10 and under, but also impacting adolescents and adults.

One of the hardest-hit areas is Hackney in Central London, which has the lowest vaccination uptake in the country—with only 60.8% of children receiving both MMR doses by age five—and the second highest number of confirmed measles cases at 46 in 2025. Bristol tops the case count with 47 cases but has a higher vaccination rate of 83%, still below the 95% threshold.

Other hotspots include Leeds (29 cases), Salford (27), Birmingham (26), and Newham (24). None of the 13 regions with at least 10 confirmed cases boast vaccination rates above 90%. In four of these areas, fewer than 70% of children are fully vaccinated, and in eight areas, coverage remains below 80%.

For privacy reasons, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suppresses reported cases in regions with fewer than 10 occurrences. Our interactive map highlights only those areas with significant case numbers, allowing you to see the measles risk in your local community.

The MMR vaccination schedule offers the first dose at one year old, with a second dose around three years and four months. While two doses protect approximately 99% of recipients from measles and rubella, mumps protection is slightly lower, though breakthrough infections tend to be less severe.

If you or your children have missed these vaccinations, it’s never too late to catch up. Contact your GP to book an appointment and help protect yourself and those around you from measles.

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES


No spam. Unsubscribe any time.