Factors affecting MMR uptake in the UK and Libya

Measles mumps and rubella (MMR) are serious infectiousdiseases, which can be prevented by effective immunisation(MMR vaccine) of the young population. However, if immu-nisation coverage against MMR is less than the 95% recom- mended by World Health Organization, measles could become an epidemic, resulting in a high number of suscepti- ble children getting the disease.1In 2005, vaccine uptake in UK was 82%, 2 but in Libya, where the Wakefield study had not been publicised widely,3 the uptake was 97%.2 The aim of this research was to explore the factors that influenced the Libyan and the British parents’ decision to vaccinate their children with MMR, how they determined risk-taking and decision-making processes, and how these were shaped by different sociocultural context (having very dissimilar health systems, educational systems and socialstructure).