In a striking revelation that underscores the far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, an international research initiative led by the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University exposes a disturbing decline in public trust toward childhood vaccinations. This erosion of confidence, catalyzed by the pandemic’s unprecedented global disruption, has precipitated a worrying drop in immunization rates, particularly for vaccines that combat measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP). The consequences have already surfaced dramatically with one of the most severe measles epidemics in Israel in decades and a resurgence of this preventable but highly contagious disease globally.
Published recently in the journal Vaccine, the study draws from a comprehensive survey involving 2,047 parents in Israel and the United Kingdom, contrasting vaccination patterns among children born before the COVID-19 era with those born after. In the UK, MMR vaccination coverage has dropped from an impressive 97.3% pre-pandemic to 93.6% for children born post-pandemic. Israel reflects a similar pattern with rates decreasing from 94.3% down to 91.6%. Such declines, though seemingly incremental, represent significant public health setbacks, especially when compounded by corresponding decreases in DTP vaccination coverage.
Prof. Michael Edelstein, the principal investigator and public health expert at Bar-Ilan University, highlights the societal ramifications of these findings, noting that “a mere 5% shift in parental vaccine acceptance for younger siblings post-pandemic is enough to ignite outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.” His insights emphasize the fragile balance maintaining herd immunity and how even minor behavioral shifts can unravel decades of public health progress. Importantly, these patterns are emerging in groups historically characterized by high vaccination compliance, indicating a broad and alarming trend rather than isolated pockets of hesitancy.
The epidemiological data laid bare by recent outbreaks offers a sobering context. England documented almost 3,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles in 2024, marking the highest incidence since 2012—a resurgence fueled by diminished vaccination uptake. Similarly, Israel faces a dire public health emergency with over 1,800 measles cases reported within months and at least eight fatalities of toddlers under two and a half years old, all belonging to the unvaccinated cohort. These figures signify a drastic rollback from near elimination of measles in Israel, spotlighting the urgency of addressing vaccine hesitancy.
As the study drills deeper into the psychological underpinnings driving parental decisions, it identifies fear of vaccine side effects as the predominant driver of declining immunization rates. This anxiety is not new but has been amplified by the pandemic’s climate of uncertainty and misinformation. In the surveyed populations, 92% of UK parents and 63% of Israeli parents cited concerns about adverse vaccine reactions as influential in their hesitancy. These fears have compounded an already fragile trust landscape, amplified further by societal disruptions and intensified misinformation campaigns during the pandemic.
Moreover, the investigation highlights demographic disparities that complicate the public health response. In the UK, parents of Asian descent exhibited the sharpest declines in vaccine uptake, while Israel’s ultra-Orthodox and Arab sectors showed the largest reductions. These variations suggest that tailored communication and culturally sensitive intervention strategies are crucial. Generic public health messaging appears insufficient to overcome unique socio-cultural barriers, indicating the need for specialized community engagement and education programs to rebuild vaccine confidence.
This global erosion of trust poses fundamental questions about the sustainability of herd immunity and the resilience of public health infrastructures. Even fractional declines in vaccination rates can dismantle the population-level protection that protects vulnerable groups such as infants, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The research team warns that failure to reverse these trends could precipitate a marked increase in morbidity and mortality from diseases once considered controlled or virtually eradicated.
The importance of proactive and transparent communication cannot be overstated. Public health authorities face the Herculean task of combating not only scientific uncertainty but also a deluge of misinformation proliferated through social media and other channels. According to Prof. Edelstein, restoring parental trust hinges on “clear communication, education, and community-based initiatives.” These measures must address the root causes of fear, correct misconceptions, and demonstrate vaccine safety with evidence-based reasoning articulated in accessible language.
Interestingly, the study employs a self-controlled matched cross-sectional methodology, a rigorous analytical design that compares parental behavior longitudinally within matched cohorts to identify shifts attributable directly to the pandemic context. This approach lends robustness to the findings, allowing for greater confidence that changes in vaccination attitudes are pandemic-induced rather than incidental or confounded by unrelated factors.
The data underscore a broader global public health concern: the pandemic’s impact on vaccine confidence is neither ephemeral nor restricted geographically. Instead, it reflects a profound shift with international repercussions. Health systems worldwide must incorporate findings such as these into policy and program design to prevent a domino effect of preventable disease outbreaks. Interventions must be both immediate and sustainable, integrating behavioral science insights with epidemiological vigilance.
Ultimately, this research serves as a clarion call to recommit resources to vaccine advocacy, education, and accessibility. The precarious balance of public trust is a linchpin of disease control, demanding multidisciplinary approaches involving healthcare providers, government bodies, educators, and community leaders. As the global community continues to grapple with the aftermath of COVID-19, lessons learned from this study should inform urgent action plans to safeguard future generations from the resurgence of life-threatening infectious diseases.
Subject of Research: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parental vaccine behavior and childhood immunization coverage in Israel and the United Kingdom.
Article Title: Comparative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parental behaviour towards childhood vaccination in Israel and the United Kingdom: A self-controlled matched cross-sectional study
News Publication Date: October 28, 2025
Web References:
Study in Vaccine: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264410X25006826
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127385
Image Credits: Courtesy of Bar-Ilan University
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy, childhood vaccination, measles outbreak, public trust, MMR vaccine, DTP vaccine, Israel, United Kingdom, public health, immunization coverage, herd immunity, vaccine side effects, epidemiology
Tags: childhood vaccination rates declineDTP vaccination declineimpact of COVID-19 on immunizationinternational vaccination trendsIsrael UK vaccination comparisonmeasles outbreak resurgenceMMR vaccine coverage statisticsparental trust in vaccinespublic health consequences of vaccine hesitancypublic health initiatives for vaccine confidencetrust in childhood vaccinesvaccination patterns before and after COVID-19
