Overview
- Renae Archer caught measles at five months, before she was eligible for MMR, and a decade later developed SSPE, a rare brain disease that proved fatal in 2023.
- Her mother, Rebecca, is urging parents to ensure children receive both doses of the MMR vaccine to prevent outbreaks and protect infants too young to be jabbed.
- The World Health Organization removed the UK's measles-free designation this week after a surge in 2024 cases that included a child’s death in England.
- By the end of 2024, estimated uptake was about 92% for the first MMR dose and just under 85% for the second, levels health officials say are insufficient.
- NHS Greater Manchester’s chief medical officer, Dr Manisha Kumar, says the public appeal supports a multimedia campaign encouraging families to check records and book missed immunisations.