The Fight To Keep Measles Out Of Nurseries Raises Issues Of Freedom And Responsibility | Letter

Frances Ryan describes nursery unit donning aprons and gloves, successful an effort to forestall nan dispersed of bales (Look astatine nan emergence of bales successful England and inquire yourself: person we learned a azygous point from Covid?, 23 July). This raises important issues. We are unaware of grounds that this would beryllium effective.

As bales is dispersed by coughing, sneezing, singing etc, should masks beryllium worn? Two-thirds of cases of bales this twelvemonth person been successful children aged 10 years aliases younger. Should we beryllium asking nan children successful nan nursery to deterioration PPE arsenic well? What will beryllium nan effect connected young children of being cared for by group successful aprons and gloves, and perchance masks – surely not bully for their affectional development?

More importantly, arsenic Frances describes, we mention to nan “personal choice” of parents not to person their kid vaccinated pinch nan safe and effective MMR vaccine. This “personal choice” should not widen to putting different children astatine risk. In a nursery location will beryllium unimmunised children – not done a parent’s decision, but because nan kid is not eligible. Some of nan children will beryllium excessively young to beryllium vaccinated pinch MMR and occasionally location will beryllium a kid whose immune strategy does not activity properly.

If either of these groups of children develops measles, they are much apt to person superior complications, including encephalon harm and death. As they cannot beryllium vaccinated, nan only measurement to protect them is to guarantee that their contacts are immunised.

With state comes responsibilities. Perhaps erstwhile bales is around, children who are not immunised should beryllium excluded from nursery. What each excessively often happens is that nan kid who cannot beryllium immunised is excluded. Is that right?
Dr David Elliman and Prof  Helen Bedford
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health