Do we need a misinformation jab? Vaccines have saved hundreds of millions of lives and eradicated grisly diseases like smallpox. Why do so many people suddenly oppose them?
Doctors’ fears as vaccine rates plummet
Escalating epidemic fears: Childhood vaccine uptake in the UK continues to decline, with no vaccines meeting the 95% target in 2023-24—a five-year low that led to last year's measles outbreak being declared a national incident. Glossary
Measles - A very contagious infection that causes rash and flu-style symptoms.
Tetanus - A serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system, causing painful muscle spasms and stiffness, particularly in the jaw and neck.
Tuberculosis - A bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs.
Polio - An infectious disease that affected children all over the world. It left victims paralysed or unable to move their muscles.
pathogens - An organism that causes disease to its host.
Misinformation - Incorrect or misleading information unintentionally presented as fact. It can be contrasted with disinformation or deliberate lies.
Cranks - Eccentric people with strange ideas.
Anti-establishment - Opposed to or directed against the establishment.
MMR - A combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella.
Outlandish - Looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar.
Far-right - A range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents.
Populist - The term comes from the People's Party, which operated in the USA in the 1890s. Now, it is often used to refer to any movement that makes a distinction between the "people" and the corrupt "establishment".
Meningitis - A dangerous disease that causes inflammation of the membranes protecting the brain and spinal cord.
Malaria - A serious parasite infection transmitted by mosquito bites. It is one of the world’s most lethal diseases.