A significant rise in measles cases and other vaccine-preventable diseases has raised concerns globally, prompting an urgent statement from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Last week, the agency described the vaccination coverage across Europe as “sub-optimal.”

ECDC data indicates that approximately 35,000 measles cases have been reported in Europe within the initial months of the year, with a staggering 85% of these cases occurring in Romania. Additionally, the outbreak has resulted in 23 reported deaths. In Spain, the Carlos III Health Institute recorded 193 cases of measles between January 1 and April 20, 2025, with notable outbreaks particularly concentrated in the Basque Country and Málaga.

Pamela Rendi-Wagner, director of the ECDC, underscored the critical role of vaccination when she stated, “Thanks to vaccination, we have eradicated smallpox and controlled serious diseases such as polio, diphtheria and tetanus. We need to intensify efforts to maintain high vaccination coverage.” These sentiments reflect growing concerns as many areas fail to reach the 95% vaccination goal for the MMR vaccine, which protects against mumps, measles and rubella. In Spain, while vaccination rates are relatively close to this benchmark, the country does not meet the required percentage for the second dose, which is vital for ensuring comprehensive immunity.

Ángel Gil, a professor of preventive medicine and public health at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, acknowledged Spain’s fortunate position regarding the credibility of paediatric nursing, but emphasised the need to counter misinformation. He asserted, “Measles is not cured with vitamin A; measles is prevented with vaccines.”

Europe appears to be following in the footsteps of the United States, where declining vaccination rates have already manifested in significant outbreaks. For instance, a recent outbreak in Texas affected over 600 individuals, resulting in 64 hospitalisations and two pediatric deaths. Researchers from Stanford University and other institutions reported that if current vaccination trends continue—showing rates between 85% and 93%—Europe could expect approximately 851,000 measles cases annually, with corresponding complications including over 170,000 hospital admissions and 2,550 deaths.

A further decline of 10% in vaccination rates could escalate potential measles infections to 11.1 million. Should vaccination rates drop by 25%, projected figures suggest that 26.9 million individuals might be infected over the next 25 years, leading to 5.4 million hospitalisations and 80,600 deaths.

Factors contributing to the decline in vaccination include a diminished perception of risk following years of reduced case numbers, increased misinformation about vaccine efficacy and safety—exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic—and longstanding doubts about the MMR vaccine, which originated from a now-discredited study published in 1998 that inaccurately linked the vaccine to autism. Despite being retracted and its author expelled from the General Medical Council in the UK, the mistrust persists among a significant segment of the public.

Gil remarked on the potential consequences, stating, “What is happening in the US and the UK, is that high vaccination rates had meant that the disease was considered eliminated, but not eradicated. But if vaccination drops, the virus is still there and outbreaks will appear.”

The authors of the cited study stressed that failing to maintain routine childhood vaccination at high levels will likely lead to increased frequency and magnitude of outbreaks of diseases that were previously eliminated, warning of their potential return to endemic status.

Source: Noah Wire Services