Reports that a child has died of measles in Liverpool has led to parents being urged to check their children are up to date with vaccanations. The youngster, who’s gender and age is unknown, was being treated at Alder Hey Children’s hospital, and is thought to be the second child in England to die from the infection in the past decade.
Measles is caused by a virus that is easily spread. The first symptoms are similar to those of a cold, which are then followed by a rash a few days later. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination is one recommended for babies and young children to protect them against the contagious infections. However, latest figures show that the vaccine coverage rate by the age of 5 was below the target of 95%. The Express has put together a graph to reveal the rates across the nation.
Liverpool has one of the lowest rates of childhood vaccine take-up of MMR in the country and is among the 22 council areas with a shocking rate below 75%. In 2023/2024, it was found that only 73.4% of five-year-olds had their second jab, making it the 17th lowest in England and the lowest outside of London.
Hackney has the lowest rate, at just 60.8%, equivalent to three in 10 children not receiving both the jabs by five. The east London district was followed by Islington, at 63.8%, and Westminster, at 64.3%. Manchester, Nottingham, and Birmingham also all have rates below 75%.
The latest figures from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that there have been a total of 529 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England since January 2025, with the agency partially blaming the spread on the falling rates of the MMR vaccine. Check your area in our map below.
According to The World Health Organisation (WHO) to achieve herd immunity, at least 95% of children must recieve a full set of vaccine doses for each illness.
NHS data show hat 91.9% of five-year-olds had received one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, the lowest level since 2010-11, while just 83.9% had received both doses, the lowest since 2009-10.
While no council area in the country has hit that target, Cumbria is not far off the target at rate of 94.8%, as well as County Durham with 94.2%.