Report on Measles Outbreak and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The recent measles outbreak in England presents a significant challenge to achieving targets within SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The resurgence of this highly infectious disease directly undermines progress in ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age.

• Over 500 confirmed measles cases were reported in England in 2025, with a majority occurring in young children.
• A child fatality was recorded in Liverpool, highlighting the severe health risks associated with the disease.
• National measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine uptake stands at 84%, with some areas like Liverpool reporting significantly lower rates of 73%, falling short of the levels required for herd immunity.
• Healthcare facilities are under pressure, with medical professionals who had previously not encountered measles now treating numerous cases.
• Early years education providers have reintroduced stringent infection control measures, including enhanced cleaning protocols and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect child health.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The pattern of the measles outbreak and corresponding vaccination rates reveals significant health inequalities, a key concern addressed by SDG 10. Disparities in healthcare access and outcomes are evident across different socioeconomic and demographic groups.

• Experts have identified a strong correlation between under-immunisation and poverty, indicating that children from deprived backgrounds are disproportionately affected.
• Marginalised communities, including asylum seekers and refugees, face barriers to accessing healthcare and may be reluctant to seek vaccinations for their children.
• A lack of targeted public health communication is a contributing factor. A more tailored approach is required to address the specific concerns of diverse communities, such as questions regarding vaccine ingredients within the Muslim community.
• The disparity in vaccination rates between different regions underscores geographical inequality in public health provision and outcomes.

SDG 1: No Poverty

The outbreak’s underlying causes are intrinsically linked to poverty, demonstrating how failing to achieve SDG 1 can impede progress on other development goals, particularly in health. Economic hardship creates significant barriers to accessing preventative healthcare.

1. Professor Helen Bedford of UCL stated that poverty is a key underlying issue, with access to services being a more significant problem than vaccine hesitancy.
2. Parents in low-income households often cannot afford to take time off work or pay for transport to attend vaccination appointments.
3. Public health officials note that families experiencing time poverty and the daily struggle to meet basic needs do not prioritise health interventions for diseases they perceive as a low risk.
4. Issues such as lack of access to adequate food and housing are compounding factors that exist alongside vaccine hesitancy, indicating a broader systemic challenge rooted in poverty.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The health crisis is causing direct disruption to early years education, impacting the delivery of SDG 4. A safe and healthy environment is a prerequisite for effective learning and development.

• Nurseries with confirmed measles cases have been forced to implement strict protocols, such as segregating children by mobility, which alters the standard educational and social environment.
• The reintroduction of “Covid levels of cleaning” and other pandemic-era measures, while necessary for safety, creates an altered and potentially stressful atmosphere for young children.
• Parents of infants too young for vaccination face a difficult choice between securing a childcare place, which is often necessary for parental employment, and protecting their child from a high-risk environment, potentially delaying their start in early education.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the resurgence of measles in England touches upon several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary issues of disease outbreak, vaccination rates, healthcare access, and social inequality directly link to the following SDGs:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire discussion revolves around a public health crisis: the rise in measles cases, a preventable infectious disease. It covers aspects like child mortality (a child’s death in Liverpool), vaccination coverage, the spread of communicable diseases, and the capacity of the healthcare system to manage outbreaks.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article explicitly links the failure to control measles to social and economic inequalities. It highlights how poverty and marginalization are key drivers of low vaccination rates. Experts quoted in the article state that “under-immunisation goes hand in hand with poverty” and that marginalized groups like “asylum seekers and refugees” are more reluctant to seek healthcare, leading to unequal health outcomes.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  This goal is closely related to SDG 10 in the context of the article. The text points out that poverty is a direct barrier to accessing healthcare. It mentions that parents are “time-poor, often working really hard just to put food on the table,” and may be unable to afford transport or take time off work for vaccination appointments. This demonstrates how poverty prevents access to essential health services, creating a cycle of vulnerability.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific targets within the identified SDGs are relevant:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.2: “By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age…” The article’s mention of a “child died at Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool after contracting the infectious disease” directly relates to this target, as measles is a vaccine-preventable disease.
   • Target 3.8: “Achieve universal health coverage, including… access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.” The article’s focus on barriers to vaccination—such as misinformation, missed appointments, limited access to GPs, inability to afford transport, and the exclusion of marginalized communities—directly addresses the challenges in achieving this target.
   • Target 3.b: “Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable… diseases… provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines…” The core issue of the article is the failure in vaccine uptake for measles, a communicable disease. The discussion around vaccine hesitancy and the need for targeted community approaches to boost uptake falls under the umbrella of ensuring access to and trust in vaccines.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… origin, religion or economic or other status.” The article points to the marginalization of specific groups, noting that “asylum seekers and refugees” are more reluctant to seek healthcare. It also highlights how economic status (poverty) is a major barrier, showing a lack of inclusion in essential health services.
   • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome…” The disparity in health outcomes is clear. Low-income families and marginalized communities have lower vaccination rates, leading to a higher incidence of measles. The article states that “under-immunisation goes hand in hand with poverty,” which is a clear example of an inequality of outcome.

3. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.4: “By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to… access to basic services…” The article illustrates how poverty directly impedes access to a basic health service (vaccination). Reasons cited, such as parents being “unable to take time off work” or “unable to afford the transport,” show a direct link between poverty and the inability to access essential services.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several explicit and implicit indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicators for SDG 3

   • Indicator 3.2.1 (Under-5 mortality rate): The report of a child’s death from measles is a direct data point for this indicator, specifically mortality caused by a preventable communicable disease.
   • Indicator 3.b.1 (Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme): This is explicitly mentioned. The article states, “measles vaccine uptake is 73% [in Liverpool] compared with 84% across England.” These percentages are direct measures of vaccination coverage.
   • Number of confirmed cases of a communicable disease: The article provides a specific number: “more than 500 confirmed cases in England in 2025.” Tracking this number over time is a clear indicator of the effectiveness of public health interventions.

2. Indicators for SDG 10

   • Vaccination rates disaggregated by socio-economic status or geographic area: While not presented as a formal indicator, the article strongly implies its relevance by contrasting the 73% uptake in Liverpool (an area discussed in the context of deprivation) with the 84% national average. This disparity serves as an indicator of health inequality.
   • Proportion of marginalized populations accessing healthcare services: The article implies this indicator by discussing how groups like “asylum seekers and refugees” are “reluctant to seek out healthcare.” Measuring the vaccination uptake within these specific communities would be an indicator of progress towards inclusion.

3. Indicators for SDG 1

   • Proportion of population with access to basic services: The article implies a lack of access by describing barriers faced by the poor, such as the cost of transport and the inability to take time off work. Surveys measuring these specific barriers could serve as an indicator of how poverty affects access to basic health services like vaccination.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: theguardian.com