Maths skills - Extracting and interpreting information
An important skill is in extracting relevant information from charts, graphs and tables. The questions below demonstrate applying this skill.
Figure caption,
Data sourced from The UK Health Security Agency
Question
Describe what happens to the number of measles cases after the introduction of the measles vaccines in 1968.
The measles vaccine was introduced in 1968 which caused a sharp decline to approximately 150,000 cases in 1969. A gradual decline was observed and in 1982 approximately 50,000 cases were recorded.
Question
Describe, using data, the effect of the introduction of the MMR vaccine on the number of measles cases recorded.
A new MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine was introduced in 1988, which caused a further sharp decline in recorded cases from approximately 50, 000. In 1994 a second vaccine for measles (the Measles / Rubella campaign) was introduced. Shortly afterwards a second dose of MMR vaccination was introduced in 1996, which resulted in cases falling to the low thousands.