National: Health Minster warns of high probability of measles outbreak among unvaccinated

The Minister for Health is expected to tell Cabinet on Tuesday that there is a high probability of a measles outbreak among unvaccinated groups around the country.

Stephen Donnelly will brief his colleagues today that there has been a significant increase in the highly contagious disease in the UK and across Europe relating to falling rates of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

Four cases of the disease were discovered in Ireland in 2023 that were linked to travel in other countries where the outbreaks are still ongoing, which could mean it is highly likely those numbers will rise.

Uptake of the MMR vaccine, the only protection against the disease, has been less than 90% for just under two years however, the World Health Organization recommends a target of 95%.

A recent study in Ireland estimates that almost 1 in 5 males aged 18-19 are unvaccinated.

Minister Donnelly is expected to tell Cabinet that these numbers are largely due to parental decisions not to vaccinate their children when they are younger due to inaccurate claims that link vaccines to autism.

The Department of Health is currently considering a catch-up programme to vaccinate teens and young adults against the disease.