英国儿童疫苗接种率在过去15年呈现下滑趋势[1]。五岁儿童四联疫苗接种率从2014年的89%降至81%[1]，两剂麻疹、腮腺炎、风疹（MMR）疫苗接种率则从十年前的88%下降至84%[1]。专家分析认为，接种率下降的主要原因并非社交媒体反疫苗宣传，而是家长与医疗专业人士的面对面接触减少以及疫苗接种点难以到达[1]。英国过去十年健康访问员数量下降了45%[1]，进一步加剧了这一问题。英国在欧洲国家中疫苗接种率表现最差[1]，2024年英国麻疹病例导致两名儿童死亡[1]。
社区诊所模式为改善接种率提供了新思路[1]。位于基利市（西约克郡）的诊所在购物中心零售空间内提供便民疫苗接种服务，自2023年以来已为数百名婴儿接种疫苗[1]。该诊所首剂MMR接种率从三年前的78%上升至88%[1]。工党议员Paulette Hamilton建议英国政府考虑实施"选择性退出"政策而非现行的"选择性加入"政策[1]，以进一步提升全国接种覆盖率。
Vaccination coverage among British children has declined significantly over the past 15 years, with rates for the four-in-one vaccine among five-year-olds dropping from 89% in 2014 to 81%[1]. Similarly, uptake of two doses of the MMR vaccine has fallen from 88% a decade ago to 84%[1]. Experts have identified reduced face-to-face contact between parents and healthcare professionals, along with difficulty accessing vaccination services, as the primary drivers of this decline—contrary to common assumptions about anti-vaccine social media campaigns[1].
The shrinking healthcare workforce has compounded the problem, with the number of health visitors in Britain falling by 45% over the past decade[1]. Britain now performs worse than other European nations on vaccination rates[1]. The consequences have been tangible: in 2024, measles cases in Britain led to two children's deaths[1].
However, innovative community-based approaches are demonstrating potential solutions. A community clinic in Keighley has successfully increased vaccination uptake by operating from retail spaces, making immunization more accessible to families[1]. The Modality AWC clinic in Keighley has seen particularly impressive results, with first-dose MMR vaccination rates rising from 78% three years ago to 88%[1]. Since 2023, the clinic has vaccinated hundreds of infants[1]. Addressing the accessibility gap rather than combating misinformation may therefore be key to reversing the downward trend in childhood immunization coverage.