“This is tragic news and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the child who sadly died.
In a statement following the death of a child at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool after contracting measles, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“This is tragic news and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the child who sadly died.
“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.
“There is an urgent need to address falling immunisation rates. Nationally, only 84 per cent of children in England receive the first dose of the MMR vaccine by age two, and just 88.8 per cent receive both doses by age five—below the 95 per cent threshold recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to achieve herd immunity.
“These gaps have contributed to 529 confirmed measles cases in England so far in 2025, with 68 per cent occurring in children under the age of 10.
“We need action alongside awareness and councils stand ready to work in close partnership with the NHS and national government to ensure families have access to clear, trusted information and convenient services to help ensure every child is protected. The LGA reaffirms its commitment to the principles outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan and urges the Department of Health and Social Care to work closely with councils to strengthen vaccination uptake and safeguard public health.”
Notes to editors
Measles | UKHSA data dashboard
Ends