Vaccination crisis: measles makes a strong comeback amid misinformation and system bottlenecks

Our country is going through the worst vaccination crisis in decades, and the consequences are already visible: the dramatic increase in measles cases and the sharp decrease in child immunization. According to the latest data analyzed by Save the Children Romania, only 47.4% of children received the first dose of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine in 2025 - well below the 95% safety threshold recommended by the World Health Organization.

Doctors warn that the situation is fueled by three main factors: misinformation on social media; the abolition of vaccination in schools; the isolation of rural communities and the lack of transportation.

• Romania, the epicenter of measles in Europe

Data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control shows the scale of the crisis: between February 2024 and January 2025, 32,265 measles cases were reported in the EU; of these, 27,568 were in Romania - that is, over 85%. The situation is also confirmed by the National Institute of Public Health: 35,736 cases between 2023 and 2025; 30 deaths; most of the cases in children under 15 years of age. Romania is thus among the 13 European countries where measles has endemic transmission, meaning the disease constantly circulates in the population.

• Why do parents refuse vaccination

The study conducted in rural areas based on interviews with doctors and community nurses identifies four major types of barriers: 1. Informational barriers -

online myths and disinformation; distrust of vaccines; lack of perception of the seriousness of the diseases. 2. Social and cultural barriers - family mobility; linguistic and cultural barriers; community influence. 3. Systemic barriers - excessive bureaucracy; lack of medical personnel; abolition of vaccination in schools; lack of transportation. 4. Parental behaviors - constant postponement; refusal to sign declarations of non-vaccination; fear of adverse reactions.

Doctors say that the biggest problem is the abandonment of the booster: in some communities, the rate for the second dose of MMR drops to 20%.

Family doctors report serious structural problems: lack of sanctions for non-vaccination; reporting difficulties; lack of community personnel; insufficient funding. A major obstacle is the elimination of vaccination in schools, which previously ensured high coverage.