Mum of baby who caught measles urges for MMR jab to be offered earlier
A mum whose 11-month-old son caught measles one month before getting his MMR jab is now calling for the vaccine to be given earlier than when babies turn one.
Kelly Smart called 111 after her son Oscar developed a rash and a fever. Paramedics rushed to their home and took them to Birmingham Children's Hospital in an ambulance. Once there, little Oscar - whose temperature had risen to 39.9C - was treated in an isolation ward.
Doctors feared the boy was showing signs of sepsis as his mum explained: "He just looked awful, his eyes were swollen, his top lip was swollen, he was pale." Ms Smart said the boy was due to get his vaccine next month.
Kelly said her son had a high temperature and a fever (Sky News)
She said they were rushed to the hospital and Oscar was put in an isolation ward (Sky News)The mum told Sky News it was "very frustrating as a mum" that it "wasn't an option" to get Oscar vaccinated sooner and, while her son is now getting better, she urged other parents to get their children vaccinated. Her appeal comes as NHS figures show more than 3.4million children under 16 have not been vaccinated, and are at risk of catching the disease.
More than 200 cases of measles have been recorded by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) across the Midlands - and this is being described as a national incident. Pop-up vaccination centres are being set up to deal with the outbreak.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella - conditions that can easily spread between unvaccinated people. To get your vaccination, you can ask your GP surgery or other healthcare professionals for advice.
Currently, the NHS vaccination schedule sees the first dose being given to one-year-old babies and the second one when children turn three years and four months old. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins urged parents to get their children vaccinated.
She said: "Please go and talk to your GP and have the vaccination - it is completely safe. There are two types of vaccination which can help people who may be worried about pork products. We've got a vaccine for people who are worried about that and we've got a vaccine for people who aren't so it is really safe. We can absolutely help you get vaccinated to help the whole community."
The first dose of the MMR jab is given to babies when they turn one (Getty Images)Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth, explains the NHS. The initial symptoms include a high temperature, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a cough, and red, sore, watery eyes.
Small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips a few days later. These spots usually last a few days. Then, a rash starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.
If you think you or your child may have measles, you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111. If you are pregnant and have been in close contact with someone who has measles, you should also seek medical attention as the infection can be serious during pregnancy.
Measles usually starts to get better in about a week but there are somethings you can do to help ease the symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading the infection. It can help to rest and drink plenty of fluids, such as water, to avoid dehydration.
You can also take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve a high temperature. The NHS also recommends using cotton wool soaked in warm water to gently remove any crusts from your or your child's eyes.
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