2021 Lancet study reveals MMR vaccine provides lifelong protection with slight annual waning, partly explaining increased measles cases among vaccinated individuals in England.

A recent study in The Lancet Public Health reveals that the MMR vaccine, introduced in 1988, provides lifelong protection against measles but may wane slightly by 0.04% per year post-second dose. This gradual decrease could partly explain rising measles cases among fully vaccinated individuals in England, where uptake is only 85%, below the 95% target set by the WHO. Maintaining high vaccination rates is crucial to prevent outbreaks, as the MMR vaccine remains highly effective.