Heartbroken Mother Issues Measles Vaccination Plea After Daughter's Tragic Death
The grieving mother of a ten-year-old girl who died from complications linked to a childhood measles infection has made an emotional appeal to parents across the United Kingdom. Rebecca Archer's daughter Renae passed away after being diagnosed with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), an extremely rare and fatal brain disease that can develop years after measles infection.
A Preventable Tragedy
Renae contracted measles at just five months old - before she was old enough to receive the MMR vaccination that protects against measles, mumps and rubella. The infection occurred during a period when vaccination rates in her community were insufficient to provide herd immunity protection for vulnerable infants like Renae.
"It's like a nightmare," Rebecca Archer told reporters. "It's still hard to believe that's why Renae's not here anymore - because of having the measles ten years previously."
The mother from Salford, Greater Manchester explained how Renae appeared to recover normally from her initial measles infection as an infant. "She was poorly for a few days. After that, everything went back to normal - she was fit and healthy," Rebecca recalled.
The Devastating Diagnosis
A decade after her measles infection, Renae began experiencing seizures at school which led to medical investigations and the devastating SSPE diagnosis. The progressive neurological disorder affects the central nervous system and is triggered by the measles virus remaining dormant in the brain.
"She had one every week and then I think it was the third seizure where they did an MRI," Rebecca explained. "Then that's when they discovered there was some swelling on her brain."
The young girl's condition deteriorated rapidly as the disease progressed. "Her motor functions started to deteriorate - she just slowly couldn't speak or eat," her mother said. Medical professionals eventually informed the family that Renae's condition was fatal, leading to the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support machine last September.
UK Loses Measles-Free Status
The tragedy comes as the World Health Organisation has revoked the United Kingdom's measles-free status this week following a significant spike in cases throughout 2024. This marks the second time the country has lost this status after initially being declared measles-free in 2017.
Vaccination rates have declined concerningly, with data showing that by the end of 2024, only 92% of children had received their first MMR dose and just under 85% had completed the crucial second dose. Medical experts emphasise that both doses are essential for lifelong protection.
Rebecca Archer believes her daughter's death could have been prevented with higher community vaccination rates. "Renae hadn't had the MMR because she was under twelve months old," she explained. "If there wasn't an outbreak and more kids had their vaccinations, then she wouldn't have got the measles in the first place and it wouldn't have ultimately ended her life."
Medical Authorities Urge Action
Dr Manisha Kumar, chief medical officer for NHS Greater Manchester, has expressed hope that Rebecca's story will encourage parents to verify their children's vaccination status and book any missed appointments.
"Rebecca's story is one example of many that illustrate why we need to urgently reverse the decline in the uptake of childhood vaccinations," Dr Kumar stated. "We hope that through brave people like Rebecca coming forward with their personal stories, combined with our multimedia campaign, it will serve as a reminder that these diseases have not gone away."
The medical officer emphasised that vaccination protects not only individual children but also vulnerable members of the community who cannot receive immunisations due to age or medical conditions. "Simply by ensuring you have both doses, you not only protect yourself and your family against the illness, but also those who you come into contact with who may be vulnerable," she added.
The resurgence of measles cases in late 2023 led to increased transmission throughout 2024, resulting in the current public health concern. Health authorities are now intensifying efforts to improve vaccination uptake and prevent further tragedies like Renae's death from occurring.
