Another Vaccinations 'Crisis'?

The injection of young children in England with the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, has fallen to the lowest level seen in the last 10 years (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/01/very-worrying-mmr-vaccine-rates-in-england-at-10-year-low). Ten percent of children, aged 5, are not up-to-date with the 2 required doses of the vaccine. The World Health Organisation maintains that, at least 95% of children need to be vaccinated, to stop the spread of measles in populations. Measles is not a minor disease. It can cause death and serious injury in some vulnerable individuals. The last time that MMR uptake collapsed in the UK, was pre-internet, when a scare story linked vaccination to the acquisition of autism. This 'link' turned out to be bogus. It was based on the 'results' of a wholly unscientific 'study' that was published and then carried by prominent newspapers/ TV programmes. Parents of autistic hoped to sue vaccine manufacturers. It is uncertain why the current uptake of MMR is markedly declining. It could be simply a consequence of people missing, what would have been, routine visits to their general practioner. The Covid19 pandemic has certainly greatly disturbed normal patterns of doctor/patient interaction. Perhaps doctors and new parents have had other things to worry about in the pandemic? The possibility exists, however, that the reduced MMR uptake is linked to the spread of wider antivaxx sentiments. It would be very sad, if another consequence of the covid19 pandemic, is a resurgence of measles, mumps and rubella.