There's a reason child vaccination rates are falling - and it's not social media
Summary
Child vaccination rates in the UK have dropped over the past 15 years. Health experts say this is mainly because of practical problems like parents struggling to get to clinics, not just because of anti-vaccine messages on social media.Key Facts
- Vaccination rates for children in England have fallen, with 81% receiving the four-in-one vaccine, down from 89% in 2014.
- About 84% of children have received both MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines, down from 88% ten years ago.
- A new walk-in vaccine clinic was opened in a vacant shop in Keighley, west Yorkshire, to make access easier for parents.
- Social media anti-vaccine messages contribute to some vaccine hesitancy but are not the main reason for the drop.
- One major issue is that parents, like new mother Lily, face challenges such as post-partum depression and difficulties traveling to appointments.
- Some UK politicians are now discussing making childhood vaccinations mandatory.
- Measles outbreaks have occurred in cities like Birmingham and London, and two children in England died of measles this year.
- Immunizations, along with clean water and sanitation, have greatly reduced child deaths compared to before the 1800s.
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