Romania is grappling with its worst vaccination crisis in decades, with fewer than half of children receiving the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in 2025, according to a report by Save the Children.
The report reveals that only 47.4% of children received the first MMR dose, while uptake of the second dose, typically given at age five, has dropped in some communities to as low as 20%. These figures remain far below the 95% coverage target recommended by the World Health Organization, raising serious public health concerns.
The sharp decline in immunization has triggered a surge in measles cases, making Romania the European Union country with the highest number of infections. Data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control show that between February 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, 27,568 of 32,265 measles cases reported across the EU occurred in Romania. The second-highest country, Italy, recorded just 1,097 cases, highlighting the scale of Romania’s outbreak.
Health experts warn that the combination of low vaccination coverage and growing measles outbreaks could strain the country’s healthcare system and increase mortality risks among children. Save the Children calls for urgent action to improve vaccine access, address hesitancy, and implement nationwide public awareness campaigns.
The crisis underscores the critical need for Romania to restore public confidence in immunization programs and accelerate MMR coverage to prevent further outbreaks and protect children from preventable diseases.
