Child dies of measles in UK hospital as vaccine uptake declines across country

They became the second to succumb to the illness in the last five years

Per The Sunday Times, the unnamed patient was being treated for measles and additional health issues at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

A statement from the establishment's NHS Foundation Trust read: "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," it continued, before urging people to make sure they're fully vaccinated in order to protect vulnerable youngsters.

A report recently published by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) demonstrated how the uptake of vaccinations across the UK has lost momentum over the last decade.

Not a single routine childhood vaccination has met the target of 95% coverage since 2021, which means young ones are highly at risk of coming down with measles, meningitis or whooping cough.

The RCPCH paper revealed how families are more hesitant than ever due to jab fears - Covid changed the game in that sense - yet the difficulty in booking and attending appointments forms part of the problem too.