A new study in The Lancet reveals childhood vaccination rates across Europe have fallen since COVID-19, risking a resurgence of preventable diseases amid declining public confidence and coverage gaps.
Childhood vaccination rates across Europe have slipped since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study in The Lancet, raising concern that diseases once brought under control could return. The researchers said the pattern points to a worrying reversal after decades of progress in which immunisation coverage for children had climbed to historically high levels.
The study examined seven routine childhood vaccines across the 27 EU countries from 1980 to 2024. It found that 16 member states recorded lower coverage for at least four of the vaccines after the pandemic began. Germany saw declines in five of the seven shots, while Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden registered falls in all seven. The vaccines studied included protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, meningitis B, polio, pneumococcal disease, measles and rubella.
The findings fit a broader pattern seen across the region. UNICEF reported in 2023 that confidence in childhood vaccines had weakened across Europe and Central Asia since the start of the pandemic, with perceived importance falling by more than 10 percentage points in 29 countries. It also found that people under 35 and women were more likely to express less confidence in childhood vaccination.
More recent data from UNICEF and the World Health Organisation showed that childhood vaccination rates in the WHO European Region were still below pre-pandemic levels in 2024, leaving children more exposed to measles and whooping cough. WHO had already warned in 2021 that routine immunisation had dipped during the first year of the pandemic, though the impact varied sharply between countries. Public health experts say the message is clear: without renewed efforts to rebuild trust and improve coverage, avoidable outbreaks may become harder to prevent.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
