Uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in Ireland has remained lower than anticipated despite dedicated public health campaigns to boost immunization coverage, according to an update from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

The HPSC reported that the National Incident Management Team (NIMT) for measles—established in 2024 in response to rising cases in the European Union and the United Kingdom—was stood down in May 2026 after operating throughout 2024 and 2025. Ireland achieved measles elimination status in 2017, but vaccination rates have remained consistently below the World Health Organization's 95 per cent target required for herd immunity. Figures show national MMR1 uptake at 24 months stood at 87.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2025.

An extensive catch-up campaign launched by health authorities resulted in more than 11,500 MMR vaccine doses administered through general practices and Health Service Executive (HSE) clinics between February and September 2024. However, the HPSC noted that the management team identified several operational hurdles during the response. These included public health staffing constraints, particularly outside standard working hours, difficulties in conducting complex contact tracing, and inconsistent availability of preventive treatment pathways for vulnerable contacts.

The watchdog also highlighted infrastructure gaps, specifically the absence of a completed national immunisation information system and an outbreak case management system, both of which remain in development. To safeguard Ireland's elimination status, the HPSC recommended continuing public awareness campaigns, establishing permanent vaccination and surge response capacity, and ensuring robust national pathways for diagnostics, contact tracing, and treatment.