Health officials concerned over return of old diseases
For many, the rapid development and rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine was regarded as a miracle of modern medicine. But other were more sceptical, choosing not to get the Moderna, AstraZeneca or Pfizer jabs.
While we heard more about ‘anti-vaxxers’ during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s certainly not new. In recent years more parents have chosen not to get their children vaccinated for a range of diseases, citing fears of potential long-term related health conditions.
"With GP waiting times increasing in many practices, and appointments for non-urgent care more difficult to access, private blood testing is becoming a common alternative for many people looking to take control of their health.”
For many, the rapid development and rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine was regarded as a miracle of modern medicine. But other were more sceptical, choosing not to get the Moderna, AstraZeneca or Pfizer jabs.
While we heard more about ‘anti-vaxxers’ during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s certainly not new. In recent years more parents have chosen not to get their children vaccinated for a range of diseases, citing fears of potential long-term related health conditions.
A dangerous choice?
This choice to avoid getting children vaccinated has health officials are concerned about a potential health time bomb as new data reveals a decrease in uptake across most inoculation programmes.
Statistics from UK Health Security Agency and NHS Digital for children up to 5 years of age in the UK show that vaccination coverage decreased for almost all routine programmes.
Only 89.2% of children at 24 months had completed their first dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, a decrease from 90.3% in the previous year. Coverage for the second dose of MMR by age 5 years was also down by nearly 1%.
A decrease in uptake was also noted for the vaccine which protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B, among children aged 12 months, 24 months, and 5 years.
What could this mean?
We have become acutely aware of diseases and infection in recent years, thanks to the pandemic. Recent health fears were raised when traces of the previously eradicated Polio virus were discovered in sewage samples collected in London.
With immune systems that were weakened during the pandemic or compromised in young children who were not exposed to each other in the usual social and educational settings, the impacts of diseases and infections on health can potentially be much greater.
Measles, in particular, is a disease of concern. Highly contagious, even a small decline in MMR vaccine uptake can lead to a rise in cases. And with international travel returning to normal levels it is increasingly likely that measles will be brought in from countries that have higher levels of the disease and cause outbreaks.
Measles can lead to complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain which requires hospitalisation and on rare occasions can be fatal.
What can we do?
Epidemiologists stress the importance of getting children vaccinated as they also boost population immunity levels, helping prevent outbreaks.
If you have concerns about the safety of vaccinations, it’s important that you speak with a GP who will be able to provide you with clear information and guidance, grounded in robust scientific research.
Wondering about your own immunity?
If you’re concerned about your own immunity to measles, mumps, or rubella, perhaps because you don’t think you were vaccinated when you were a child, it is possible to test for antibodies to these diseases with a simple blood test.
Private blood testing is becoming a popular solution for a whole range of medical and diagnostic checks, for people who want quick access to important information about their health and wellbeing.
The measles, mumps and rubella test provides all the information you need about your immunity to these diseases.
Booking your private blood test at a local clinic
We make sure the experience of booking a private blood test is as easy, convenient, and painless as possible. By partnering with Spire Healthcare, we make the process simple and seamless by offering easy-to-book appointments at your local Spire Hospital. Here’s how it works:
After you have selected the right test for you, simply order online through our secure payment system or chat to a member of our team. Once your order is placed, you’ll receive all the information you need to arrange your convenient blood draw appointment at one of our Spire Hospital locations.
How your appointment works
We partner with Spire Healthcare to offer a professional phlebotomy service. This guarantees that your blood samples are taken and handled correctly and that your results are processed efficiently by clinical professionals. Our confidential blood examinations are available at over thirty private clinics around the UK.
At your appointment, the friendly team will talk to you about your test, collect your blood sample and send it off for testing at an accredited partner laboratory. All you need to do is arrive for your appointment. We’ll take care of the test, and the rest.