Measles can be a fatal disease that can lead to hospitalisation or even death. In the last year there has been an increasing concern about the number of measles cases occurring. Some experts have suggested it may be necessary to address surges in diseases like measles, alongside falling rates of immunisation.
The uptake of the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine in particular has been declining in many countries. The reason is not clear. Rates dipped in the 1990s following publication of a report linking MMR to autism, but partly recovered after that research was discredited and disproved. However, the volume of anti-vaccine sentiment on social media has been swelling, and there are concerns that 'vaccination deniers' were gaining traction online.
On the other hand, arguments against compulsory vaccination include: adverse reactions do occur, though they are rare; it is not necessary to achieve 100% immunisation rates to achieve herd immunity; and compulsory vaccination breaches the fundamental human right of a parent to choose what happens to their child.
However, it has been suggested that the risks from measles outbreaks are now so high that unvaccinated children should not be admitted to state schools.
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