#Immunization

Alarming trends in American childhood vaccination rates serve as a critical warning for Thailand’s public health system, as declining immunization coverage and soaring parental exemptions threaten to unravel decades of disease prevention success. Recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals a dangerous erosion of herd immunity that carries profound implications for Thailand’s own vaccination programs, particularly as the kingdom balances traditional values with modern medical science while confronting rising vaccine hesitancy in certain communities.

Vaccination rates among U.S. kindergarteners have fallen while exemption rates have soared to unprecedented levels, sparking renewed concerns about resurgent vaccine-preventable diseases—a trend with implications far beyond American borders. New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released in early August 2025, show that inoculation coverage for key childhood diseases has declined again. At the same time, exemptions—parents opting out of required vaccines for their children—have reached an all-time high. The latest snapshot underscores potential threats to herd immunity, with infectious diseases like measles re-emerging at levels not seen in more than 30 years in the United States. The findings highlight not only the direct health risks but also wider social and policy challenges as vaccine hesitancy grows worldwide, including in Thailand.

A large Danish study finds no increased risk of autism, ADHD, or other chronic neurological, autoimmune, or allergic conditions from aluminum in vaccines. Researchers analyzed health records of more than 1.2 million children born between 1997 and 2018, following them for up to eight years and examining fifty conditions. The findings provide solid reassurance to Thai families amid ongoing concerns about vaccines.

Aluminum salts act as adjuvants, helping vaccines provoke a stronger immune response. This practice has been in use for more than nine decades. While rumours circulate online, global science has not supported a causal link between aluminum exposure in vaccines and neurodevelopmental or immune-related disorders.

A sweeping new study out of Denmark has concluded that exposure to aluminum in early childhood vaccines does not increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or other chronic neurological, autoimmune, or allergic conditions. This research, covering more than 1.2 million children, comes at a crucial time of persistent vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, offering robust scientific reassurances that routine childhood immunisations are safe and not a source of neurological or immune harm.

A regional milestone in 2024 shows South Asia achieving the highest-ever immunization coverage for children. The joint findings from the World Health Organization and UNICEF signal a turning point for the region and offer practical lessons for Thailand as it strengthens protections against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The achievement reflects a broad partnership among governments, frontline health workers, donors, and communities. Early indicators from Thailand’s health authorities echo a shared drive across South Asia—covering Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—that lifted vaccine uptake. A UNICEF regional director calls this a proud moment, noting that more children are protected today thanks to dedicated health workers, strong leadership, and family trust.

South Asia has achieved a remarkable public health milestone in 2024, reaching its highest-ever immunization coverage for children, according to newly released data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The news marks a turning point not only for the region but also offers valuable lessons for countries like Thailand as they strive to strengthen child health and protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

At the heart of this achievement lies a powerful collaboration between governments, frontline health workers, international donors, and the communities themselves. Early results released by WHO Thailand on July 16, 2025, highlight the collective push across South Asia – which includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – that led to a dramatic increase in vaccine coverage. According to UNICEF’s Regional Director for South Asia, “This is a proud moment for South Asia. More children are protected today than ever before, thanks to tireless frontline health workers, strong government leadership, donors’ and partners’ support and the unwavering trust of families.”

A growing body of research reveals that vaccines may deliver far more than protection against specific infectious diseases; they can also trigger broader immune system responses that benefit general health and survival, especially among children. These “non-specific effects”—sometimes called “bonus shots”—recently made headlines in a detailed feature on Salon.com, which highlighted a wave of new scientific findings and renewed international debate. For Thailand, where high childhood immunisation rates have underpinned rising life expectancies for decades, these revelations add new urgency and context to national vaccine policy.

Vaccines could do more than protect against a single infection. Recent research suggests some vaccines may strengthen overall immune health, potentially benefiting children beyond the targeted diseases. In Thailand, this idea is reshaping discussions about child-immunization programs and how schedules might adapt in the future.

Live vaccines, including BCG for tuberculosis and the measles vaccine, have shown associations with lower mortality from a variety of causes not limited to the diseases they prevent. Researchers emphasize that these broader benefits may stem from how vaccines train the immune system. Thai health professionals are exploring what this could mean for vaccination timing, policy decisions, and parental choices.

A U.S. federal advisory panel advising the CDC recommended that flu vaccines in the United States be available in single-dose, thimerosal-free formats. If adopted, this would standardize vaccines and address public concerns about ingredients. The issue holds global relevance for Thailand’s immunization programs and public confidence in vaccination.

Thimerosal has long sparked debate over mercury exposure and vaccine safety. The advisory panel, refreshed under new leadership, placed the question of thimerosal at the forefront of its agenda. The move reflects public demand for clearer policies rather than evidence of harm and aligns with the FDA’s position that thimerosal has a long history of safe use as a preservative.

A federal advisory committee to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all Americans—including children, pregnant women, and adults—receive single-dose influenza vaccines that do not contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative long scrutinized despite decades of safe use. This move, which could soon lead to an official CDC policy, reflects an ongoing international spotlight on vaccine ingredients and the public’s persistent concern over vaccine safety—a topic with direct relevance for Thailand’s immunization practices and public confidence.

A recent vote by a United States government advisory panel to curtail the use of thimerosal—a mercury-based preservative—in flu vaccines has reignited controversy over vaccine safety and the legacy of discredited autism claims. The vote, which followed a presentation by prominent vaccine critics now serving in government, illustrates how decades-old debates over vaccine ingredients continue to influence public health policy, even as the global consensus remains firm on vaccine safety.

A U.S. advisory panel has voted to limit thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, in flu vaccines. The decision revives a long-running debate about vaccine ingredients and safety, even as major health authorities maintain that vaccines containing thimerosal are safe at the doses used.

For Thai readers, the story underscores how misinformation can influence health choices and how public trust in vaccines must be protected. Thailand’s vaccination programs rely on international guidance and local communication to keep campaigns effective. The Thai public health system continues to monitor global debates while ensuring vaccines remain accessible and trustworthy.

A landmark study published in The Lancet warns that after five decades of steady gains, childhood vaccination coverage is stalling or declining worldwide. The analysis draws on 50 years of country-level data and highlights a troubling rise in “zero-dose” children—those missing even the most basic vaccines. Inequalities, lingering COVID-19 disruptions, and increasing vaccine misinformation are contributing to uneven progress, according to the study led by researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and supported by the Gates Foundation and Gavi.

A new comprehensive study published in The Lancet has sounded a worldwide alarm: after five decades of progress, childhood vaccination coverage is stagnating or even retreating, leaving millions of children increasingly vulnerable to deadly yet preventable diseases. The analysis, released this week and drawing on 50 years of country-level data, warns that the number of “zero-dose” children—those missing even the most basic vaccines—remains distressingly high, with global immunisation efforts hampered by growing inequalities, the lasting shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, and an upsurge in vaccine hesitancy and misinformation (Washington Post; The Lancet).

The alarming drop in childhood vaccination rates is raising fresh fears of infectious disease resurgence in Thailand and around the world. According to recent research highlighted by international health experts, the downward trend in routine immunizations is leaving populations increasingly vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable illnesses such as measles and polio, marking a pivotal moment for public health systems globally, including Thailand (WIRED).

This issue is especially crucial for Thai families and policymakers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted health services and shifted public attention away from routine childhood immunizations. Historically, Thailand has celebrated strong immunization coverage, credited with eradicating diseases such as polio within its borders and sharply reducing cases of measles and diphtheria. However, the latest developments suggest these hard-won gains may now be at risk should the pattern mirror the global decline.

A worrying drop in childhood vaccination rates is fueling concerns about preventable disease outbreaks in Thailand and globally. Research highlighted by health experts shows routine immunizations slipping, leaving more children vulnerable to illnesses such as measles and polio. This moment calls for decisive public health action in Thailand and beyond.

The issue matters especially for Thai families and policymakers in the wake of the Covid-19 disruption to health services. Thailand has long boasted strong immunization coverage, helping erase polio within its borders and dramatically reduce measles and diphtheria cases. Yet recent trends hint that these hard-won gains could be at risk if the global decline persists.

A groundbreaking U.S. government study has found that a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be just as effective at preventing HPV infection as the traditional two-dose regimen, according to new data presented this week. The findings could dramatically reshape vaccination strategies worldwide, including policies and practices in Thailand, where increasing HPV vaccine uptake remains a crucial public health goal.

The new results, unveiled by U.S. government researchers, have been described by experts as “phenomenal,” underscoring the potential for a single-dose schedule to maintain protection against the most common and cancer-causing strains of HPV. The research, detailed in a highly anticipated STAT News report, adds to growing evidence that simplifying the HPV vaccine protocol could enhance global vaccination rates, lower health care costs, and ultimately save more lives.

A United States government study suggests that a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be as effective as the traditional two-dose schedule in preventing HPV infection. The findings, presented recently, could reshape vaccination strategies worldwide, including in Thailand where growing vaccine coverage is a public health priority.

Experts describe the results as phenomenal, indicating that a single-dose approach could maintain protection against the HPV types most strongly linked to cervical and other cancers. The study adds to mounting evidence that a simplified vaccination protocol could boost global uptake, reduce costs, and save more lives. According to researchers involved, the data point to a feasible path for expanding protection without requiring a return visit for a second shot.

A recent case in the United States is raising alarm among health experts worldwide—including here in Thailand—after a controversial physician contracted measles yet continued to practice medicine, treating children who were never vaccinated against the highly infectious disease. The case, originally reported by Ars Technica, underscored the troubling intersection of vaccine hesitancy and public health, as well as the ongoing risks posed by declining immunization rates among children.

The incident involved an American doctor known for her opposition to vaccine mandates, who was diagnosed with measles after caring for unvaccinated pediatric patients during a local outbreak. Despite clear recommendations from health authorities that infected individuals remain isolated to avoid further transmission, the doctor allegedly kept treating her young patients—many of whom were especially vulnerable to the virus due to their unvaccinated status (source).

A measles case in the United States has drawn international attention, including in Thailand, highlighting how vaccine hesitancy and public health risk intersect. A physician diagnosed with measles continued to treat children who had not been vaccinated, despite clear guidance that infected individuals should isolate to prevent further spread. The incident, originally reported by Ars Technica, underscores ongoing concerns about declining immunization rates and their impact on vulnerable populations.

According to health authorities, the doctor involved has a public stance against vaccine mandates and treated unvaccinated pediatric patients during an outbreak. Local clinics and hospitals faced heightened risk as exposure occurred in settings where unvaccinated children gathered. Public health experts stress that isolation after infection is a critical step to stop transmission, and continuing to care for patients in this state is widely viewed as dangerous and unethical.

A first measles case in Virginia for 2025 has drawn renewed attention to the return of a vaccine-preventable disease. Health officials in Virginia announced the case on 19 April 2025, underscoring the need to keep immunization rates high. This development is relevant for Thai families and healthcare providers amid global travel, vaccine hesitancy, and evolving infectious disease risks.

Measles remains one of the most contagious viruses, spreading through the air and causing fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. Complications can be severe, including pneumonia and brain inflammation, particularly for young children and those with weakened immune systems. Global health authorities warn that declining vaccination rates and disruptions to routine immunizations during the COVID-19 era have contributed to pockets of outbreaks across multiple regions. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that most recent measles cases in the United States were unvaccinated or under-immunized, highlighting a persistent risk where gaps exist.

The US state of Virginia has reported its first confirmed measles case for 2025, raising fresh concerns about the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Health officials at the Virginia Department of Health announced the case on 19 April 2025, emphasizing the critical need to maintain high immunization rates. This news is not only significant for Americans, but offers urgent lessons for Thai families and healthcare providers in an era marked by global travel, vaccine hesitancy, and infectious disease risks.

A small American town’s resistance to childhood vaccinations has turned into an international public health warning, as a measles outbreak sweeps through the community, resulting in the deaths of at least two children and serious illness for many more Mirror, Apr 15, 2025. The outbreak inundated local hospitals, rekindled global debates about vaccine misinformation, and now stands as a sobering lesson for countries like Thailand, where vaccine confidence is increasingly challenged by online conspiracy theories and social media rumors.

A small town in the United States is facing a severe measles outbreak after rising vaccine skepticism. The crisis has put hospitals under pressure, claimed the lives of young children, and rekindled global debates about misinformation and public health. This incident serves as a timely reminder for Thailand, where vaccine confidence faces renewed challenges from online rumors and social media.

Measles remains one of the world’s most contagious diseases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that a single case can spread to many others in communities without immunity, making herd protection essential. In places where vaccination rates dip below about 95 percent, outbreaks can surge quickly, threatening both individuals and the broader community. In the current case, vaccination skepticism and uneven funding for programs have contributed to lower uptake in the affected area, amplifying the outbreak’s impact.