United States: Holland & Knight Health Dose: January 16, 2024 - Holland & Knight

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