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Mandatory vaccination is not the solution for measles in Europe

Global measles cases reached their highest levels since 2006 in the first six months of 2019. With countries around the world struggling to contain outbreaks, government policy on vaccination has come under fire. Germany has been the latest to succumb to the pressure.

Given the free movement of citizens between EU countries, consistent public health policy is particularly important there. For instance, there were over 230 cases of measles in the UK in the first quarter of 2019, most of which were linked to travel in Europe.

Although measles cases are at a record high, more children in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region are being vaccinated than ever before. Improvements in vaccination rates are being overshadowed by small clusters of susceptible people who continue to act as a reservoir for the disease. No EU country can hope to control measles adequately without success across the entire region. So the question is: is mandatory vaccination the key to success?

Nine out of 30 European countries have mandatory vaccination for measles, which involves two doses, one in the first two years of life (MCV 1) and one later in childhood (MCV 2). There is no clear difference in vaccine coverage between countries with mandatory vaccination compared with those without mandatory vaccination.

Measles vaccine coverage by EU/EEA country (2018) ECDC, WHO

Looking at the number of measles cases in children by country, there is also no consistent difference, with some countries that have mandatory vaccination, such as Bulgaria and Slovakia, having very high rates of measles.

Number of measles cases per 100,000 children in EU/EEA countries. ECDC, World Bank

Mandatory vaccination is undemocratic

The most obvious problem with mandatory vaccination is that it impinges on people’s rights, a fundamental aspect of liberal democracy. Indeed, the social perception of the rich imposing their will at the expense of individual autonomy led to the end of mandatory smallpox vaccination in England in 1946.

However, some might argue that it is the government’s job to take tough measures in the interest of public health. So the differences in EU countries’ approaches reflect different political systems and their willingness to override individual autonomy for a perceived greater common benefit.

An Economist Intelligence Unit democracy index, based on 60 indicators including civil liberties and human rights, shows that EU countries where measles vaccination is mandatory are all classed as “flawed democracies”. In countries where vaccination is not mandatory, 62% were classed as “full democracies”.

EU country by EIU Democracy Index Score. Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Taking all the evidence together, it is clear that weak democratic systems in some EU countries enable the implementation of mandatory vaccination, for little or no benefit to public health.

Alternatives

We know a lot about the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy. Parents declining the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine often believe that vaccines are unsafe and ineffective and that the diseases they prevent are mild and uncommon. Some lack trust in their health professionals and in science. Solutions to this exist, with several randomised controlled trials (the gold standard of medical research) finding that parents’ attitudes can be changed with the right training programmes.

It’s also important to have enough clinics that provide vaccinations. Public health seems to have been an easy target for budget cuts in many European countries. In many countries, most vaccine sceptics are not vehement “anti-vaxxers”, but have a cautious stance on vaccination. For people like this, having accessible and convenient vaccination services as well as supportive professional guidance are fundamental to effective policy.

A 2019 study from France found that a year after making vaccination mandatory, vaccination coverage for measles increased. This is misleading. It is likely to reflect the success of actions derived from significant political commitment, including funding public health services, public awareness campaigns and outreach activities, rather than the law itself.

To deal with measles, EU policy must be consistent, fair and effective. Well-understood and documented reasons underlying low rates of vaccination exist. It’s important that these are addressed to engage hard-to-reach groups, before leaping to radical measures with a weak evidence base, under the guise of action.

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