The Lancet Infectious Disease
Jul 2009  Volume 9  Number 7   Pages 393 – 454
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

Leading Edge
Compulsory childhood vaccination
The Lancet Infectious Diseases

The UK faces an outbreak of measles virus infection on a scale not seen since vaccination became available. Figures released in February for England and Wales show a 36% rise in confirmed cases of measles, from 990 in 2007 to 1348 in 2008, the highest number since monitoring was introduced in 1995. A further 382 cases were reported in the first 3 months of this year. According to the Health Protection Agency, most cases are among children who have not been fully vaccinated with the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.