Measles comeback is "canary in the coal mine" for U.S., vaccine expert says
The return of measles is a 'canary in the coal mine' for the country's ability to fight the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccine misinformation and politicization during the pandemic have contributed to falling vaccination rates and outbreaks of measles worldwide. [ more ]
If you think it's anti-vaxxers driving measles cases up in the UK, think again and look to Scotland | Devi Sridhar
The UK is experiencing a surge in measles cases, with more than 200 children diagnosed in the last four weeks of 2023.
Low MMR vaccination rates and a large population of unvaccinated children have contributed to the risk of infection.
Scotland's success in high vaccination rates during the Covid-19 pandemic may be attributed to flexible working for parents and mobile vaccination centers. [ more ]
Millions in the UK are being urged to get vaccinations during a surge in measles cases
U.K. health officials are urging parents to book their children for missed measles, mumps, and rubella shots due to a sharp increase in measles cases and low vaccination rates.
Vaccination rates have dropped to about 85% nationally, and even lower in parts of London, which is below the recommended 95% needed for safe population coverage. [ more ]
'A Shot in the Arm' Documentary Treats Vaccine Denialism with a Dose of Empathy
Childhood immunizations are recovering to pre-COVID rates in some countries, while others continue to experience declines.
Public trust in vaccinations has eroded worldwide, including in the U.S., where a new pandemic documentary aims to address this distrust.
Experts attribute the decline in vaccine rates to a combination of misinformation, conspiracy theories, socioeconomic factors, and ideological beliefs. [ more ]