{
  "id": 8129748,
  "title": "Consequence of growing vaccine skepticism: childhood vaccination rates are falling in many EU countries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/folge-wachsender-impfskepsis-kinder-impfquoten-sinken-in-vielen-eu",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-18T00:00:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/forschung-innovation/folge-wachsender-impfskepsis-kinder-impfquoten-sinken-in-vielen-eu-laendern/100255485.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "A study published in \"The Lancet Regional Health - Europe\" reports that many EU countries, including Germany, have seen stagnating or declining vaccination rates for children in recent years. The study analyzed data from 1980 to 2024 and found that 16 of 27 EU countries showed declining trends in at least four of seven routine vaccinations. In Germany, five of seven vaccination rates were affected, with only Hepatitis B and the first dose of the measles vaccine showing slight increases. The study warns that declining vaccination rates pose a serious threat to public health and can lead to the resurgence of preventable diseases.",
  "summary": "Vaccinations are among the most successful measures in the field of public health. However, a dangerous trend is emerging in the EU.",
  "key_points": [
    "Vaccination rates for children declining in many EU countries",
    "Germany among countries most affected by declines",
    "Falling below 95% target can lead to disease outbreaks"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Waning immunization rates in many EU countries, including Germany, pose a serious threat to public health, fitting a concerning pattern of increased vaccine skepticism and resurgence of preventable diseases.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}