UK Child Vaccinations Decline to 10-Year Low Amid Rising Measles Cases

Vaccination rates among children are declining in both Arizona and the UK, raising significant public health concerns. In Arizona, non-medical vaccine exemptions for kindergarteners increased to 9% in the 2024-25 school year, nearly doubling over a decade, contributing to a surge in whooping cough cases which have more than doubled compared to the five-year median. Similarly, the UK is experiencing its lowest childhood vaccination coverage in over a decade, with key vaccines such as MMR and the six-in-one vaccine falling below the World Health Organization’s recommended 95% threshold. This decline has led to outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, with thousands of cases reported in recent years and several deaths, particularly in areas like London where coverage is lowest. Experts warn that these trends leave communities vulnerable to outbreaks of potentially deadly diseases and highlight the risks of growing vaccine hesitancy. Additionally, cuts to UK funding for global vaccination efforts threaten international disease control and pandemic preparedness, potentially weakening the UK’s own resilience to infectious diseases.