Childhood vaccination rates are declining across Europe, while North Macedonia remains well below the 95% threshold considered necessary to maintain herd immunity.
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Published data show that only 62% of children in the country have received the first dose of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, rubella and mumps. The situation is also problematic for other vaccines: coverage against diphtheria, tetanus and polio stands at 79%, while HPV vaccination coverage is only 51%.
The decline in vaccination coverage was most pronounced between 2019 and 2022, a period that coincided with the COVID-19 crisis. Experts warn that these low levels could undermine herd immunity and increase the possibility of infectious diseases returning.
Since 2019, several European countries have recorded significant declines in vaccination rates. By contrast, Luxembourg and Portugal continue to have coverage above 95% for the vaccines included in the analysis.
