Surge in Measles Cases in UK, Comes Amid Plummeting , Vaccination Rate.<br />On January 22, health officials in the United Kingdom urged millions of parents to get their children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.<br />'The Independent' reports that the news comes amid <br />a sharp increase in the number of measles cases, <br />combined with the lowest vaccination rates in ten years.<br />The UK's National Health Service has launched <br />a publicity campaign after discovering <br />about 250 confirmed measles cases in 2023.<br />According to the NHS, most of the cases <br />were in children under the age of ten.<br />UK Health Security Agency chief executive <br />Jenny Harries warned that vaccination rates <br />have fallen to approximately 85% nationally. .<br />Hairries noted that the numbers are <br />"too low to maintain safe population <br />coverage — we want that at about 95%." .<br />According to public health officials, over 3.4 million <br />children under the age of 16 are unprotected and<br />at risk of catching one of these preventable diseases.<br />Officials at the World Health Organization have warned <br />that outbreaks can occur anywhere vaccine coverage <br />drops below 95%, which is necessary for herd immunity.<br />Helen Bedford, a professor of children's health at <br />University College London, said that recent declines <br />in vaccination may have been driven by the pandemic. .<br />The pandemic, with new vaccines <br />introduced and vaccination constantly <br />discussed, may have resulted in the public <br />having more questions about vaccination:<br />its safety, effectiveness and, for a disease <br />like measles which had become <br />rare in the U.K., its necessity, Helen Bedford, Professor of children's health at <br />University College London, via 'The Independent'.<br />Asking questions about vaccination <br />is to be encouraged, but we <br />need trained staff to do this, Helen Bedford, Professor of children's health at <br />University College London, via 'The Independent'
