Inequalities of access, decline in vaccination, false certificates … why measles makes its comeback in France

A cold, a strong fever, followed by the appearance of red pimples on the face and on the body … So many symptoms characteristic of measles. « It is the probably the most contagious virus we knowestimates the infectiologist Odile Launay. The carrier can infect up to fifteen people. The disease, benign in the majority of cases, may have serious respiratory or neurological consequences, bringing in the worst scenarios to the death of the patient. »»

While the disease had almost disappeared from radars in 2022 and 2023measles is experiencing a worrying resurgence in France this year. An increase observed also worldwide.

As many cases during the first four months of 2025 as in 2024

From January 1 to April 13, 2025, 427 cases were declared to regional Health agencies (ARS), a total approaching the number of cases declared for the entire year 2024 (483). On all cases reported, 35 % were hospitalized and almost 14 % experienced complications (pneumonia or encephalitis). And an immunocompromised adult patient has died.

In comparison with the same periods of last year, the epidemic touches more particularly Young adults. In children born after 2018, subject to compulsory vaccination to ROR vaccines (measles-rowwheat), the virus circulates less. Proof that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent disease.

Multiple factors explain this resurgence of the disease. “The resurgence that we are witnessing is explained by the world situation and the drop in overall vaccination recorded following the Pandemic of COVID 19. Significant epidemics of measles are underway in Morocco, Eastern Europe and the United States. The virus was thus reintroduced to French territory and spread through communities not vaccinated or badly vaccinatedindicates Odile Launay. To achieve collective immunity, vaccination coverage should be 95 % with two doses of vaccines received. However, it revolves around 87 % with disparities in the territory. In addition, even in children’s cohorts born after 2018, it stagnates around 92 %. »»

Epidemic foci in school environments

Two regions are particularly affected by the measles epidemic. According to the Ars of Hauts-de-France, “Over 120 cases of measles have been recorded. At first, the cases were mainly concentrated on the Lille metropolis, but now they are distributed more widely in Hauts-de-France. »»

The main declared households have come forward in communities of Travelers. “The departmental health prevention services have been mobilized to organize a vaccination campaign with these communities. Thirty-three people, including a majority of children, were vaccinated on this occasion “Says Estelle Cossec, Deputy Director of the Northern Health Prevention Service.

In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, “To date, a hundred cases have been recorded. In Haute-Savoie, two homes are underway but traffic is not worrying. The Department of Isère experienced an important epidemic home but the situation is now stabilized ”, Specifies Doctor Anne-Sophie Ronnaux-Baron, head of the regional health monitoring center of ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. “In the territory of Bièvre, we organized vaccination sessions in nine schools, where several cases of measles had been declared. We have thus vaccinated nearly 160 people, the vast majority of students who were badly or not vaccinated ”.

Most of the minors concerned were born after 1980 but before 2018, they therefore remain subject to the only vaccination recommendation and not to its obligation. A figure that the manager of ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes estimates “Quite disappointing compared to the objective set. Unfortunately, some Parents are anti -vax. They do not anticipate all the potential consequences for their own children but also for their loved ones. »» A phenomenon that is explained by the standard profile of the vaccination defrier, “ whose first reflex is to fear more deleterious effects of vaccine, rather than taking into consideration the beneficial effects of its protection.

The perception of the risk is altered, the parents are convinced that they protect their children by not vaccinating them ”, Analysis Romy Sauvayre, sociologist of sciences and beliefs at Clermont Auvergne and CNRS University.

Socio-economic disparities

The latest public health vaccination bulletin France shows Yet Stabilization of vaccination membership at a high level, with 83.7 % of those questioned in mainland France declaring that they are favorable to vaccination. On the other hand, socio-economic disparities persist and even seem to be widening more and more: those with income and lower education, declare less favorable to vaccination.

Infectiologist Odile Launay deplores “A lack of communication around measles, a disease that had almost disappeared, and on its ROR vaccine. At the time of the pandemic, all the information efforts were turned to the COVIR at the expense of other viruses. ” Moreover Public Health France recognizes that “The difficulty of access to a healthcare professional in the territory can have consequences in terms of vaccination coverage ». As a reminder, 87 % of the French population lives in a medical desert.

But more “Surprising, in this first quarter of 2025, crèches were also households in the measles epidemic”, The infectiologist is surprised. However, these are children under the age of five is therefore normally subject to the vaccination obligation to return to its communities. Either these children were badly vaccinated or their parents obtained fake vaccination certificates from a doctor. “A practice that has existed but which has decreased since 2018 due to the vaccination obligation”says Anne-Sophie RonnAux-Baron.

In the world, according to the WHO, Anti-routing vaccination made it possible to avoid more than 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023. In France, during the period 2000-2021, it is estimated that 56 million deaths due to measles were avoided by vaccination.