In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that measles had been eliminated in the UK (WHO, 2017). This was due to the excellent immunisation programme by the NHS, which achieved enough coverage (90–95% of the population vaccinated) to lead to herd immunity. However, the term ‘elimination’ is misleading: it actually means that measles is no longer native to the UK, not that it has disappeared. In 2018, there were more than 900 cases of measles in England, which Public Health England believe are largely due to people who have travelled to areas of mainland Europe that have had outbreaks (Gov.uk, 2018).
The UK was on the verge of achieving elimination of measles in the 1990s. However, an article published in the Lancet in 1998, which claimed a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, led to a drop in parents getting their children immunised. This was then was followed by large outbreaks of measles. The article has since been retracted and the author struck off the medical register; however, it hasn't stopped the ‘anti-vax’ movement gaining traction – there has been a steady decline in uptake of the vaccination over the last 5 years.
A report by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) (2019) highlighted the problem of social media spreading misinformation regarding vaccination. Endorsement of the anti-vaccination movement from people such as the US President, Donald Trump and celebrities just adds fuel to the fire. Therefore, the RSPH is calling for social media platforms to clamp down on ‘fake news’ and is asking that the NHS England Information Standard is applied to social media platforms to certify whether information is from reputable sources.
The Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock has called those who have promoted the anti-vaccination myth ‘morally reprehensible’, and has not ruled out mandatory vaccination in response to low uptake of vaccines in some communities. However, compulsory vaccination goes against the much-valued principle of informed consent. Despite immunisation protecting more vulnerable members of the public, such as the immunocompromised, it can be argued that making vaccinations compulsory takes away an individual's right to choose what is best for themselves and their children, whether it is healthy for them or not.
It is clear that in order to increase the uptake of immunisation, a multi-pronged approach is required. As with many misperceptions, education is key. The media, schools and the government must take a united front on promoting the benefits of vaccination and dispelling myths surrounding them.
There is no doubt that immunisation works. We must continue to strive to educate and vaccinate in order to protect the health of the nation, and stop vaccine-preventable diseases from returning.