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The new school year is starting in Italy, and parents are checking their checking their children’s vaccines are up-to-date. This is more important than ever as the government has made 10 childhood vaccinations compulsory – including mumps, measles and rubella. There are fines for the parents of unvaccinated older children. This is in response to the falling number of measles vaccinations – down to 85%, well below the World Health Organization’s recommended 95%. Last year there were an estimated 4000 cases of measles and three deaths. Stefano Merler, who investigates infectious diseases at the Bruno Kessler Foundation in Trento, told Irene Caselli why vaccinations are so important.

(Picture: Child having a vaccination. Credit: Getty images)