Top specialists cautioned today that outbreaks of measles and polio are now ‘probable,’ as government statistics revealed a decline in children’s vaccination rates.
All 14 frequently provided childhood immunizations have now fallen below the 95 percent threshold for uptake.
This includes the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate, which has reached its lowest point in a decade. The uptake of the six-in-one vaccines, which protect against polio, whooping cough, and hepatitis B, also reached a record low.
By March 2022, fewer than 60 percent of children under the age of five in regions of England were immunized against deadly diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and polio.
The 14 standard immunizations administered to children, such as measles, mumps, and rubella, had a decline of up to 1.3% compared to the previous year (MMR).
Even while the reduction was slight, health officials feared it might lead to a recurrence of diseases considered to be extinct, such as polio.
Additionally, it leaves the nation exposed to a measles outbreak, which typically affects a few thousand people per year.
The decline in vaccination rates over the past decade has been fuelled by the proliferation of erroneous anti-vaccine propaganda on the Internet.
However, officials stated that the ‘very concerning’ new numbers were also likely due to the Covid epidemic.
The UK Health Security Agency asked parents to ensure that their children’s vaccinations are up-to-date so that they have “maximum protection against what can be horrific diseases.
The results found that just 89.2% of children had received the MMR vaccine by their second birthday, a decrease from 90.2% one year earlier.
MMR uptake was highest in the North East (94.5%), whereas it was lowest in London (79.9 percent).
However, the discrepancy was significantly higher between local governments. In South Tyneside, 97% of two-year-olds had been vaccinated, but in Hackney, east London, the rate was a third lower (65.4 percent).
Only 16 of 149 local governments met the WHO’s aim of 95% vaccination uptake, while 61 had rates below 90%, including all of London.
Vaccination rates have been declining for years, and health officials attribute a portion of the recent decline to the pandemic.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) demanded that rates be restored “immediately” to WHO-recommended levels.
Even while rates remain low, it is more likely that ‘avoidable dangerous and sometimes fatal infections such as measles and polio’ may spread, the report cautioned.
Dr. Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, stated, “Measles is highly contagious and can be severe, thus it is concerning that the MMR vaccination rate among young children is declining.”
Since the introduction of the measles vaccination in the United Kingdom in 1968, an estimated 20 million illnesses and 4,500 deaths have been averted.
In the decade preceding the pandemic, there were as many as 2,000 cases of measles, 6,000 cases of mumps, and 70 cases of rubella per year.
During the pandemic, however, the number of cases dropped to nearly zero as the ripple effects of Covid limitations led to a decline in the incidence of other infections.
The combination of low vaccination rates and a return to pre-pandemic travel habits increases the likelihood that measles may be imported from countries with higher disease prevalence and create outbreaks in the United Kingdom, experts cautioned.
Professor Helen Bedford, an expert in child public health at University College London, stated that the country’s childhood immunization program has rendered measles “almost extinct.”
She noted that vaccination rates had fallen to “very low levels” as a result of measures taken to contain Covid, which have made it difficult for some parents to vaccinate their children.
The declining uptake has been attributed to school closures, a focus on the Covid vaccination launch, and a shortage of personal protective equipment.
She stated that the illnesses that immunizations protect against “have not disappeared,” making the lowering rate a “major concern.”
Professor Bedford stated, “Now that things have returned to normal, we are faced with the troubling twin whammy of many children being exposed and disease rates inevitably rising.
As night follows day, large disease outbreaks are expected under this scenario.
“Measles disease is of special concern since it is so highly contagious that even a slight reduction in vaccination rates can result in outbreaks.
‘Thankfully, it is never too late to receive a vaccination.
I would recommend parents check the immunization status of their children.
‘Vaccination is effective, extremely safe, and highly efficient.
No child should be exposed to the potentially severe effects of a vaccine-preventable disease.
Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist from the University of Nottingham, told that the ongoing decline in childhood vaccination rates is “disappointing.”
He stated, “We have forgotten how serious some of these children’s diseases can be.”
‘Measles, for instance, was a common killer before vaccination brought it under control.
‘However, measles is extremely contagious – one of the most easily spread viruses we know — therefore to prevent outbreaks, vaccine coverage must be high – approximately 95%.’
The NHS data also indicates a decline in the six-in-one and five-in-one immunizations among children aged one, two, and five.
These vaccinations protect against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, as well as diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B.
National uptake of the six-in-one vaccine among one-year-olds decreased from 92 to 91.8% over the past year.
The North East was the only region to surpass the WHO goal of 95%. All regions except London, where participation was only 86.5%, met the 90% requirement.
The percentage of two-year-olds who received the six-in-one vaccine decreased from 93.8 to 93% over the past year.
And only 94,4% of five-year-olds had received the five-in-one vaccine, a decrease from 95,2% one year prior.
Dr. Saliba stated that it is “essential” that children receive their polio vaccinations to reduce their risk of contracting the virus that causes paralysis.
Earlier this year, officials issued renewed pleas for Londoners to have a polio vaccine after routinely monitored sewage samples indicated the virus was spreading in the city.
In London, unvaccinated children aged one to nine were asked to come forward for their first vaccination, while those who had already been immunized were offered a booster.
Dr. Saliba stated, “I would urge parents to ensure that all of their children are up-to-date on their vaccinations, and if they are not, to make an appointment for them as soon as possible so that they have maximal protection against what might be life-threatening infections.”
Childhood immunizations also increase community immunity, thereby preventing outbreaks; therefore, by vaccinating all of our children, we contribute to eradicating these diseases.
The uptake of the PCV vaccination, which protects against pneumococcal virus, which can cause pneumonia, blood poisoning, and meningitis, is also indicated by NHS data.
Approximately 93.8% of one-year-olds have got this vaccine, a decrease from 94.1% in 2014.
In the past year, protection against rotavirus, a highly contagious stomach infection, decreased from 90.2% to 89.9%.
By the age of one, only 91.5% of children had received the MenB vaccine, which protects against meningococcal infections that can cause brain damage and death.
In the past year, the percentage of two-year-olds protected against meningitis and blood poisoning-causing Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningitis C infections decreased from 90.2% to 89.2%.
Dr. Doug Brown, chief executive officer of the British Society for Immunology, stated that “urgent action is required to reverse this disturbing multi-year decline.”
Low immunization rates are problematic.
It means that these diseases have the potential to spread inside our communities, infecting unvaccinated individuals as well as those who are unable to receive immunizations, such as infants and people with cancer.
We can and must improve.
He demanded that the government increase the role of local vaccine coordinators to guarantee that services are accessible, reach all members of the community, and respond to any inquiries from the public.
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who resigned from his position last July after being caught violating social distancing regulations by kissing a married employee, had previously suggested that the vaccinations could become required.
If enforced, the policy may prohibit unimmunized children from attending schools and nurseries.
