Below is a series of short films showing the impact that infectious diseases have had on individuals and their families. Many of the films were made with a grant provided by the Oxford Martin School.

We welcome your emails letting us know what you think of these films. They can also be found on YouTube, where you can leave comments.

Carron's story: cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine

Carron Hulme talks about her experience of surviving cervical cancer, and her daughters Charlotte and Mollie talk about the HPV vaccine. In the film Charlotte talks about receiving three doses of the HPV vaccine, but in 2014 the schedule changed. Girls will now receive two doses, as long as they get the first dose when they are aged 12-13. The HPV vaccine is expected to prevent about 70% of cervical cancers. However, it is important that girls who are vaccinated continue to take up the offer of cervical smear testing later in life, so that other kinds of cervical cancer can be picked up. (More info on HPV and the HPV vaccine.)

Sarah Clow's story: a life changed by measles

Sarah Clow was not vaccinated against measles as a child because she had had eczema (medical advice on this has since changed). She fell seriously ill with measles when she was five and was left with lasting disabilities including deafness, partial sight and learning difficulties. Her mother Audrey talks about the impact this has had on Sarah and the whole family. Thanks to Rockhopper TV for the original footage. (More info on measles and the MMR vaccine.)

Sarah Walton's story: SSPE - a serious complication of measles

Sarah Walton caught measles when she was 11 months old, and at the time recovered well. Twenty four years later, however, she fell ill and was diagnosed with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). SSPE is a persistent viral infection, a rare but devastating complication of measles which leads to a progressive destruction of the central nervous system. It causes dementia, loss of motor control, epilepsy and eventually death. In this video Sarah’s mother Jo talks about the impact that SSPE has had on Sarah and the people around her. (More info on measles and the MMR vaccine.)

Sam's story: the lasting effects of pneumococcal meningitis

Sam Willis had pneumococcal meningitis when he was 9 months old. In this film, made when Sam was 11 years old, his father talks about the lasting effects of the disease and the impact on the whole family. (More info on pneumococcal disease and the PCV vaccine.)

Charlotte's story: meningococcal septicaemia (MenB)

Five year old Charlotte Nott developed septicaemia (serious blood poisoning) through type B meningococcal disease infection. Her mother, Jenny Daniels, talks about the devastating impact on Charlotte and the rest of her family, and the prospect of a new MenB vaccine that will help to prevent other people going through the same experience in the future. (More info on meningococcal disease and the new MenB vaccine.)

Lauren's story: what whooping cough is really like

Ten year old Lauren Burnell and her mother talk about her experience of whooping cough. The disease is very dangerous for newborn babies, but older children and adults can also get whooping cough. Symptoms can last for a long time and be extremely unpleasant and disabling. Older children and adults can also pass whooping cough on to babies, who are at much higher risk from the disease. (More information on whooping cough (pertussis) and the 6-in-1 vaccine.)

Ian's story: congenital rubella syndrome (CRS)

In this film Ian Capon talks about his experience of congenital rubella syndrome - he was born with severe visual and hearing impairment as a result of his mother catching rubella during pregnancy. (More info on rubella (German measles) and the MMR vaccine.)

Deciding whether to give the whooping cough vaccine

Julia Lamming talks about deciding whether to give the whooping cough vaccine to her baby daughter who had suffered from neonatal fits. Dr Matthew Snape , BRC Consultant in Paediatrics and Vaccinology at Oxford Vaccine Group, explains how the vaccine itself has changed, and that babies with an identified and stable neurological condition can safely receive the vaccination. (More info on whooping cough (pertussis) and the 6-in-1 vaccine.)

The symptoms of shingles

In this film produced by the Shingles Support Society , Andy Ford talks about his experience of shingles. (More info on shingles and the shingles vaccine.)