Health experts have issued a stark warning as measles cases surge in England, largely due to a rise in unvaccinated children. In 2023, there were 1,603 suspected measles cases in England and Wales, a significant increase from the previous two years. The West Midlands is currently experiencing the most severe outbreak, with 198 confirmed and 104 probable cases, primarily among unvaccinated school-age children in Birmingham. Its Children’s Hospital reports treating over fifty children for measles in the past month, the highest number in decades. Measles, a highly contagious disease, requires 95% vaccine coverage to achieve herd immunity. However, vaccination rates have dropped below 90%, increasing the risk of severe infections, brain damage, and even death. Professor Sir Andrew Pollard stresses the urgent need for more vaccinations to prevent hospital admissions and fatalities. The UK, which has lost its measles-free status due to declining MMR vaccinations, faces potential outbreaks if vaccination rates do not improve. The NHS is urging parents to ensure their children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine to curb the spread of this serious disease.

A study published in the Lancet, focused on the summer of 2022, highlights that over 7,000 hospital admissions related to Covid-19 could have been prevented if the population had been fully vaccinated as recommended. The study analysed health records of the entire UK population over five years old. It found significant under-vaccination rates across the UK, with the highest in Northern Ireland (49.8%) and the lowest in Wales (32.8%). Different groups were recommended varying numbers of vaccine doses based on age and health conditions. The study also noted a correlation between under-vaccination and increased rates of severe illness, hospitalisation, and deaths from Covid. The research aims to inform public health campaigns and identify groups with lower vaccination rates, such as younger people, men, and those in poorer areas or from ethnic minorities. The potential of using large-scale NHS data for broader medical research was also emphasised. For more details, see the full article at the ‘More’ link below.

Poland's main evening news studio is under heavy police protection amid a fierce battle for control of the country's media landscape. This struggle emerged following elections that ended eight years of populist rule, leading to promises of media balance by the new coalition government led by Donald Tusk. Under the previous right-wing administration, public TV and radio channels had become highly partisan. In December, the culture minister replaced TVP's top management, resulting in the 24-hour news channel being temporarily taken off the air. Opposition figures protested the move, and rival management teams vied for control. While protesters no longer occupied TVP's reception area, security remained tight, and journalists worked from makeshift spaces, including a converted bathroom. TVP Info, the 24-hour channel, and the flagship evening news show, renamed ‘19:30’, eventually returned with a focus on a more inclusive and balanced approach. The new editor, Pawel Pluska, emphasised a shift away from divisive language and pledged to present diverse viewpoints. Despite ongoing protests by some, there is a clear effort to promote media neutrality in Poland, following years of media polarisation during the previous government's rule.

On 16 January Emmanuel Macron made a notable shift to the political right during a televised press conference, signalling a change in his political stance. One week earlier, he had appointed Gabriel Attal as the youngest prime minister in French history, leading a noticeably more right-wing cabinet. The move appears to be a response to the growing challenge posed by the hard-right nationalists led by Marine Le Pen's, who are tipped to win the European elections in June. Macron emphasised the importance of instilling French republican values in schoolchildren. He proposed measures like school uniforms, learning the national anthem, civic service for 16-year-olds, and cracking down on drug gangs. He also announced policies to combat the declining birth rate, including improved access to fertility treatments and enhanced parental leave. The press conference format allowed Macron to delve into details, but it also risked portraying him as hiding a lack of substance behind torrents of words. Marine Le Pen dismissed the event as ‘yet another interminable jabber’.