Online anti-jab myths risk lives says NHS boss

SOCIAL media is giving anti-vaccination fanatics a platform to spread myths about life-saving immunisations, the head of NHS England has warned.

Simon Stevens said he was concerned by stalling vaccination uptake and the dangers ‘fake messages’ posed to children’s health. He said parents at his own daughter’s primary school had used WhatsApp to express concerns about children’s immune systems being ‘loaded up’ with vaccines.

Likening it to not bothering to tell children to ‘look both ways when they cross the road,’ he said it was ‘irresponsible’ and urged people to stop.

Speaking at a health summit, Mr Stevens added that these parents were not only risking their own child’s health, but that of others because it threatened what is known as herd immunity.

He said: ‘As part of the fake news movement, the vaccination deniers are getting some traction. Last year saw more than triple the number of measles cases across England. We have seen a five-year decline in the vaccination uptake.’

While the UK is a world leader in vaccine coverage, rates have fallen in nine of 12 vaccinations given to children.