Vaccine-preventable diseases among children returning due to declining immunisation rates

Vaccine-preventable diseases among children are on the rise due to declining immunisation rates, the Czech Health Institute warned in its annual report. Last year, Czechia had the highest number of mumps cases in seven years and the highest number of measles cases in five years, according to health data. Diphtheria cases are at the highest level in 25 years, and whooping cough cases are the highest since 1958, the report said. Vaccination against these diseases, which return in varying degrees in waves over several years, is compulsory in childhood and must be undertaken before the age of two. However, according to the Health Ministry, there are now tens of thousands of children in Czechia who did not receive the vaccine according to the vaccination calendar or do not receive it at all.