More children in Finland and globally left unvaccinated against measles

A growing number of children in Finland are missing out on vaccinations, with 2.2 percent of those born in 2023 remaining completely unvaccinated, according to data from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

The share of unvaccinated children is particularly high in the Åland Islands, where 5.2 percent of the age group have not received any vaccines. Nationwide, vaccination coverage remains high overall, but the proportion of unvaccinated children has risen in recent years.

Regional differences are significant. In the wellbeing services counties of East Uusimaa, North Ostrobothnia, and Päijät-Häme, over 3 percent of children are now fully unvaccinated, while in North Savo, Kainuu, and Kymenlaakso, the figure remains around 1 percent.

“If a growing share of children in an area remains unvaccinated year after year, that is cause for concern,” said Mia Kontio, chief specialist at THL.

Misleading claims fuel vaccine hesitancy

Many parents harbor misconceptions about the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, often rooted in a 1998 study by a British researcher linking the vaccine to autism. The study, based on just eight children, was later debunked by multiple scientific investigations.

Kontio noted that vaccine refusal can spread when influential figures in a community voice skepticism, leading parents to question vaccinations. Even former U.S. health official Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance, acknowledged in 2025 that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles outbreaks—after two unvaccinated children died from the disease in Texas.

Finland maintains strong herd immunity

Measles cases in Finland remain rare, with only two confirmed in 2024—both in unvaccinated individuals who contracted the virus abroad. THL attributes this to strong herd immunity, which prevents outbreaks even when isolated cases are imported.

However, coverage for the MMRV vaccine (protecting against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) has declined for three consecutive years. Among children born in 2018, coverage now stands at 92 percent—below the 95 percent threshold needed to prevent epidemics.

Global resurgence of measles

Measles is making a local comeback worldwide, with unusually high infection rates in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, where travelers have been advised to check their vaccination status. In London’s Enfield district, nearly 90 children fell ill with measles in early 2026. Compared to pre-pandemic 2019, cases have surged by about 8 percent in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

THL is training healthcare professionals to address parents’ concerns about vaccines, emphasizing that even tone of voice can influence trust.