Health officials in London are raising concerns about a potential large-scale measles outbreak due to significantly low vaccination rates among children. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that less than 70% of children in certain London communities have received the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses are required for adequate protection against measles, a highly contagious disease.

The UKHSA estimates that if vaccination rates don't improve rapidly, London could experience a measles outbreak with anywhere between 40,000 and 160,000 cases. While the overall risk of a UK-wide outbreak is currently low, the situation in London is worrisome. As of June 30th, 2023, the UK has seen 128 measles cases, a significant increase from the 54 cases reported in 2022. Over 60% of this year's cases are concentrated in London.

Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine vial (Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

In response, the National Health Service (NHS) is launching a focused national campaign to increase MMR vaccination rates in under-vaccinated communities. Young adults aged 19 to 25 are considered particularly vulnerable, with many potentially missing vaccinations due to the now-debunked link between the MMR vaccine and autism, propagated by Andrew Wakefield in 1998. Although Wakefield's research was discredited and he was subsequently barred from practicing medicine, his claims fueled an anti-vaccine movement that negatively impacted vaccination uptake for years, both in the UK and globally.

The global decline in measles vaccination rates has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that approximately 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose in 2021. This has led to a resurgence of measles cases in several European countries, including Russia, Austria, Serbia, and the UK.

Measles, an airborne illness, typically presents with symptoms like cough, red eyes, and a facial rash. Severe complications, including blindness, encephalitis, and pneumonia, are more common in children under five and adults over 30. In 2021, measles claimed the lives of over 128,000 people worldwide, mostly children under five, according to the WHO.