British health officials have issued a warning about possible measles outbreaks as schools reopen in September, after new figures showed a further decline in child vaccination rates in London. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that coverage of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine among children by their second birthday dropped by one percentage point to 80.8% in the year ending March 2025. This is well below the World Health Organization’s herd immunity target of 95%, reports The WP Times citing FT.
The capital recorded one of the steepest falls, with Hackney in north London reporting vaccination coverage of only 65.3%. The decline is sharper than in 2023–2024 and marks the lowest rate in more than a decade. Across all English regions, vaccination levels remained under the WHO threshold, while the national average stagnated at 88.9% – the lowest since 2010.
Health experts link the fall to long-standing austerity measures that reduced resources for healthcare workers and early childhood centres, combined with service disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, measles cases in England reached a 12-year high in 2024.
Expert concerns
Dr Ben Kasstan-Dabush, associate professor of global health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, stressed that disadvantaged areas are disproportionately affected. He warned that even a one percentage point drop is significant when seen against the steady decline since 2013. Recent UKHSA research also showed that 85% of parents consider vaccines safe, suggesting that access, rather than distrust, is the main barrier.
Dr Julie Yates, deputy director of UKHSA’s immunisation programmes, said the agency is working with the National Health Service to improve vaccine access. She emphasised that meeting the WHO’s 95% target will require long-term commitment across the public health system.
Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS national director for primary and community services, added that pre-school boosters and the MMR jab are vital for protecting children, their families and communities from life-threatening diseases. She highlighted ongoing catch-up campaigns and awareness programmes designed to make vaccination as straightforward as possible for parents nationwide.
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