A current data analysis by the hkk health insurance company shows: More than one in eight young children in Germany is incompletely vaccinated against measles. Despite the Measles Protection Act, which has been in force since 2020 and requires proof of vaccination or immunity for entry into daycare centers, schools or daycare, there are still significant vaccination gaps. According to the hkk, the second vaccination in particular is often missing: in 2024, almost 13% of two-year-olds and around 8% of four- and six-year-olds did not have full vaccination protection. The hkk urges parents to check their children’s vaccination status and complete it in good time before they start nursery or school in order to contain the highly contagious disease.

Measles is considered highly infectious and can cause serious complications such as inflammation of the middle ear or lungs and, in rare cases, fatal encephalitis. The disease begins with symptoms such as fever, cough and runny nose, followed by a characteristic skin rash. Full vaccination offers lifelong protection and is crucial to stop the spread of the virus.

The situation is causing alarm across Europe: according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, around 127,000 measles cases were reported in 2024 – the highest level in almost 30 years. 38 cases were fatal, around 40% of those infected were children under the age of five, half of whom had to be hospitalized. In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recorded a total of 785 cases in 2024 and 209 by mid-July 2025. Although Germany is not one of the hotspots, the figures show that the country is far from being measles-free.

Although the Measles Protection Act has improved vaccination rates, it remains only partially effective, as the second vaccination is often not given. A vaccination rate of at least 95 percent is necessary to eradicate the disease in the long term. The hkk emphasizes the urgency of consistent vaccination in order to protect vulnerable groups and prevent further outbreaks.

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