As children across the United Kingdom prepare to return to school in late August 2025, public health officials are raising the alarm over a worrying decline in childhood vaccination rates. The drop has been linked to a resurgence of dangerous diseases such as measles and whooping cough, with tragic consequences for some families and mounting concern among medical professionals and local leaders alike.
According to BBC News, not a single area in northeast England or Cumbria has reached the 95 percent MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination rate required to achieve herd immunity. Middlesbrough, for example, reported the lowest rate in the region at just 82.5 percent for 2024-25—an improvement from the previous year, but still far short of the target. Cumbria, while boasting the highest rate in the region, saw its coverage slip slightly from 94.8 percent to 94.3 percent. Across 12 local authorities, vaccination rates now range between 82 and 94 percent, with only eight seeing modest increases.
These numbers matter deeply. The World Health Organization and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) both stress that 95 percent coverage is needed to prevent outbreaks and protect those who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants and those with compromised immune systems. Yet, the most recent UKHSA figures for 2024-25 show that just 91.9 percent of five-year-olds in England have received their first dose of MMR—the lowest level since 2010-11. The situation is even more concerning for the second dose, with only 83.7 percent of five-year-olds fully protected, as reported by The Guardian.
In Calderdale, West Yorkshire, the picture is similarly troubling. Councillor Tim Swift, cabinet member for Public Health, recently condemned the spread of misinformation about the MMR vaccine, noting that local vaccination rates among children and young people have dropped to around 90 percent. "We need to remember that measles kills people, it leaves them seriously injured," Swift warned, speaking to the Halifax Courier. "But because of the doubt that’s been spread about the vaccine, the vaccination rate amongst children and young people in Calderdale has fallen to around 90 percent. And we know that 95 percent is the level we need to guarantee a high level of immunity."
The consequences of these falling rates are no longer hypothetical. This summer, a child died from measles at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool, a tragedy highlighted by Councillor Helen Rivron of Calderdale. Rivron, who herself became seriously ill with measles as a child, emphasized the importance of not minimizing the disease’s impact. "Measles is a dreadful disease and I’d like to know what cabinet’s thoughts are on how we can raise awareness of this and promote take up of the MMR vaccine?" she asked during a recent council session.
Measles is not only highly infectious but also potentially devastating. Dr Catherine Monaghan, medical director for The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, told BBC News: "Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world and it can be very, very dangerous. It can cause pneumonia, it can also cause a swelling of the brain that can leave you with catastrophic, life changing illnesses—so blindness, deafness. The worst case scenario is you can die."
These warnings have taken on new urgency in the wake of cases like that of baby Saskia, a seven-month-old from County Durham. Too young to have received her first MMR jab, Saskia was hospitalized last August with a high fever, breathing difficulties, and a distinctive red rash. Her mother, Scarlett Jones, described the ordeal as "terrifying." Doctors initially suspected sepsis or meningitis—measles was so rare, some had never seen a case firsthand. "It took a while for them to diagnose measles as they had never seen a case of it before," Jones recalled. The experience left a deep impression on the medical team, who brought in students to witness a disease once thought nearly eradicated.
Measles, once a routine childhood illness, can now cause serious complications, especially in those too young or unable to be vaccinated. Dr Monaghan stressed that the disease is 95–98 percent preventable with the MMR vaccine. Yet, as coverage drops, the virus finds new footholds—putting babies, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised at particular risk. As children head back to school, health experts worry about a surge in cases, especially with so many still lacking full protection.
The MMR vaccine is typically administered in two doses: the first at one year old, the second at three years and four months. Older children and adults who missed out can still be vaccinated. But the path to restoring high coverage is complicated by lingering mistrust. After its introduction in 1988, the MMR vaccine became the subject of controversy when Andrew Wakefield falsely claimed a link to autism—a claim thoroughly debunked and for which he was struck off the medical register in 2010. Nevertheless, the damage to public confidence lingers, compounded by missed appointments during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s not only measles causing concern. Between March and June 2025, a baby under one year old in the UK died from whooping cough (pertussis)—the first such death this year, according to the UKHSA. The infant’s mother had not been vaccinated during pregnancy. Whooping cough is especially dangerous for babies, who are at the highest risk of severe illness or death. The UKHSA’s Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam emphasized, "Sadly, with a further infant death in the second quarter of 2025, we are again reminded how severe whooping cough can be for very young babies. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family who have so tragically lost their baby."
Vaccination rates for whooping cough among pregnant women have also declined, peaking at 76 percent in 2016 but falling to 59 percent by March 2024. Following a series of deaths last year, uptake has recovered somewhat to 73 percent, but remains below previous highs. "Ensuring women are vaccinated in pregnancy has never been more important," Amirthalingam said. She urged expectant mothers to receive the vaccine between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, which passes protection to the baby in the womb and shields them during those crucial first weeks of life.
The NHS is responding to these challenges by introducing new strategies. From 2026, all babies will be vaccinated against chickenpox through a combined MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccine, aiming to simplify the schedule and boost uptake. Still, the immediate challenge remains: restoring public confidence and ensuring that every child and expectant mother receives vital protection.
Councillor Swift summed up the urgency: "We continue to promote vaccinations and would urge anybody of any age who has not had vaccinations or is not certain to check with their GP and make sure they get it—and, please, promote the uptake." As the new school year begins, the stakes could not be higher for families and communities across the UK.
With the memory of lost lives still fresh and the threat of further outbreaks looming, health leaders, parents, and policymakers face a pivotal moment. The path forward will demand renewed trust, clear communication, and a shared commitment to protecting the most vulnerable.
