UK parents taken in by anti-vaxxer myths

1 in 30 oppose all jabs and 40% rely on web advice

PARENTS in the UK are among the most likely in Europe to believe anti-vaxxer propaganda.

One in 30 say they are opposed to all vaccines despite overwhelming evidence of the benefits, a study found.

The rate is at least six times higher than in Italy, France or Spain.

Only 0.2 per cent of parents in Italy were so vehemently against vaccines, as were 0.4 per cent of parents in Spain, 0.5 per cent in France and 2.6 per cent in Germany. Researchers surveyed 1,500 parents of children under three in the five countries, asking if they agreed with the statement ‘I’m opposed to absolutely all vaccines’. In the UK, 3.2 per cent agreed, while 14.4 per cent – one in seven – disagreed with the statement: ‘I am for vaccination, against all dangerous or serious illnesses, if vaccines are available.’

The study found that 40 per cent of UK parents use the internet to help them make decisions about their child’s vaccinations.

Worryingly, given the proliferation of ‘antivaxxer’ myths online, more than a quarter of these relied on social media and blogs for information – the highest of any of the five major European countries. One in ten admitted they were not well informed about immunisation.

The Daily Mail is running a major campaign to boost uptake of jabs amid a UK surge in mumps – there were more than 5,000 confirmed cases last year, the highest for a decade.

This is thought to be driven by the generation of parents who failed to immunise their babies in the late 1990s and early 2000s after disgraced scientist Andrew Wakefield wrongly claimed the MMR jab was linked to autism.

Last year a Mail poll found that a third of parents admitted their children had missed

‘The findings are concerning’

at least one vital injection. Last week Public Health England warned the coronavirus crisis could see a surge in measles if families neglect to take their children for routine jabs.

The new study said: ‘Parents having a favourable opinion on vaccination seemed to be linked with a better perceived vaccination knowledge.’

Its lead author, Professor Jean- Paul Stahl from University Hospital Grenoble in France, said: ‘It is concerning, and these findings should be used to increase confidence in vaccination.’

This week tennis No 1 Novak Djokovic said he is against having a coronavirus vaccine, should one become available – which could leave him unable to return to the sport.