Introduction
A recent international study spearheaded by the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University has unveiled a concerning trend: the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly eroded public trust in childhood vaccines. This decline in confidence has led to reduced vaccination rates and a resurgence of preventable diseases, such as measles, which are once again posing serious health threats. The study’s findings are particularly alarming in light of a severe measles outbreak in Israel, marking one of the most significant in decades, with thousands of infections and multiple child fatalities.
Study Findings
Published in the journal Vaccine, the study surveyed 2,047 parents in Israel and the UK, focusing on children born before and after the pandemic. The results indicate a sharp decline in vaccination coverage for essential childhood immunizations, including the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccines. In the UK, MMR vaccination rates dropped from 97.3% for children born before COVID-19 to 93.6% for those born afterward. Similarly, in Israel, the rates fell from 94.3% to 91.6%. The study also highlighted that 5% of UK parents and 6.6% of Israeli parents who vaccinated an older child before the pandemic chose not to vaccinate a younger child born afterward for at least one vaccine.
Impact of the Pandemic on Vaccine Trust
According to Prof. Michael Edelstein, a public health expert and lead author of the study, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on parental attitudes and behaviors toward vaccination. The study revealed that 37% of parents reported a decline in trust in vaccines post-pandemic. Even a small shift of 5% in vaccination decisions can rapidly trigger outbreaks, as evidenced by the current situation. The decline in vaccination rates is particularly concerning in populations that previously adhered to routine vaccinations.
Current Measles Outbreaks
The effects of declining vaccination rates are already evident. In 2024, England recorded nearly 3,000 laboratory-confirmed measles cases, the highest annual number since 2012. In Israel, there has been a sharp increase in measles cases, with over 1,800 reported infections by October and at least eight deaths among toddlers under 2 ½ years old, all of whom were unvaccinated. Until recently, Israel had nearly eliminated measles, making this resurgence particularly troubling.
Reasons for Vaccine Hesitancy
The study identified fear of side effects as the primary driver of vaccine hesitancy, a concern that existed before the pandemic but has intensified since. In the UK, 92% of parents cited this fear as a reason for refusing or delaying vaccinations, compared to 63% in Israel. The data also revealed disparities across different populations: in the UK, a sharper decline was observed among parents of Asian descent, while in Israel, larger decreases were noted among the ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities.
Consequences and Recommendations
Researchers emphasize that even minor declines in vaccination rates can undermine herd immunity, leading to renewed outbreaks of infectious diseases. They warn that if this global erosion of confidence is not addressed through clear communication, education, and community-based initiatives, decades of progress in disease prevention could be lost. Prof. Edelstein concluded that the impact of the pandemic on public trust in vaccines is not only temporary or localized but rather a broad and deep phenomenon with global implications. Dedicated interventions are needed to restore trust and reduce concerns to prevent further deterioration.
Conclusion
The study underscores the urgent need for targeted efforts to rebuild public confidence in vaccines. Without such measures, the world risks reversing significant advancements in public health and facing the resurgence of diseases that were once under control.
🔗 **Fuente:** https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-global-parental-childhood-vaccines-linked.html