Clare Doctor Cites Misinformation As Part Of Reason For Low Child Vaccine Uptake

Clare FM

A local medical practitioner believes misinformation is playing a part in low vaccine uptake for children. It comes as the HSE has launched a campaign to promote the importance of immunisation in protecting babies and children against the lives of measles, whooping cough and mumps. The uptake of primary childhood immunisation has declined across all vaccines since 2020, while HPSC figures show 48 cases of whooping cough and 16 laboratory-confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Ireland so far this year. Clare doctor and Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine Dr Emma Kearney says while clinic closures resulting from the pandemic are largely to blame for low uptake, misleading information on social media has resulted in some vaccine hesitancy.