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Measles cases are on the rise in the United States, with the current count about 17 times higher than the average for the same period in the previous four years, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Half of these cases, mostly involving children, have required hospitalization.
This surge is mainly due to more parents opting not to vaccinate their children against measles, polio, and pertussis. Unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination statuses represent 80% of this year's measles cases. Many parents are influenced by misinformation from politicians, podcast hosts, and media personalities who undermine the established science of childhood vaccinations. KFF Health News looks into these misleading claims and explains why they are incorrect.
The "No Big Deal" Argument
One common misconception is that vaccines are unnecessary because the diseases they prevent are not very dangerous or are too rare to worry about. Critics accuse public health officials and the media of exaggerating the threat of measles, even as 19 states report cases.
For instance, an article from the National Vaccine Information Center called the concern over measles a "sky is falling" scenario, describing diseases like measles, mumps, chicken pox, and influenza as politically incorrect to contract. According to the CDC, measles kills approximately 2 out of every 1,000 infected children. Besides death, a significant number of children with measles face hospitalization for severe complications like pneumonia. Additionally, about one in ten children with measles will suffer from ear infections that can lead to permanent hearing loss. The measles virus can also weaken a person's immunity, making them more susceptible to other illnesses.
Measles vaccines have prevented around 94 million deaths over the past 50 years, primarily among children, according to a World Health Organization analysis. Along with other vaccines, they have saved an estimated 154 million lives globally. Some skeptics argue that vaccine-preventable diseases are rare in the U.S., ignoring that this rarity is due to vaccination. This flawed logic led Florida's surgeon general to suggest unvaccinated children could safely attend school during a measles outbreak. As more parents decline vaccination, herd immunity decreases, leading to larger and more frequent outbreaks, as seen in Samoa in 2019 and the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year.
The "You Never Know" Argument
Since vaccines were first developed, some people have viewed them as harmful compared to natural infections. In the 1800s, smallpox vaccines were falsely accused of causing deformities. Today, vaccines are wrongly blamed for issues like ADHD and autism. Extensive studies have disproven these claims, yet skeptics argue that vaccines haven't been tested enough.
Vaccines are among the most thoroughly tested medical interventions. Massive studies and clinical trials, involving large participant numbers, are conducted to detect rare risks. For example, a Danish study of over 657,000 children found no link between the measles vaccine and autism. Another study involving 805,000 children found no evidence that multiple vaccinations harm immune systems. Despite this, figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismiss these scientifically rigorous studies, advocating for placebo-controlled trials, which are unethical due to the known protective benefits of vaccines. Historical trials, like the 1950s polio vaccine study, show the dangers of withholding vaccines from control groups.
The "Too Much, Too Soon" Argument
Books like Paul Thomas's "The Vaccine-Friendly Plan" suggest delaying or skipping vaccines, claiming that the CDC's schedule may not suit all children. However, Thomas's medical license was suspended for advising parents against CDC-recommended vaccines, leading to preventable diseases among his patients.
The CDC's vaccination schedule is designed to protect children at their most vulnerable stages and minimize side effects. For instance, the MMR vaccine is timed to avoid interference from maternal antibodies and to ensure a strong immune response. Delaying MMR vaccinations increases the risk of adverse reactions and diminishes protection against fast-spreading viruses in group settings. Other vaccines also have specific schedules to optimize effectiveness and safety.
The "They Don't Want You to Know" Argument
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likens dissenting scientists to Galileo, claiming that authorities suppress opposing views on vaccines. His running mate, Nicole Shanahan, suggests that vaccine harm discussions are censored and data hidden due to corporate influence.
Such claims are not new among anti-vaccine advocates, who have a significant platform through shows like "The Joe Rogan Experience." Despite repeated debunking of the vaccine-autism link by numerous studies, skeptics persist in spreading misinformation. Epidemiologists, like Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, emphasize that vaccines are rigorously tested and monitored, with federal agencies transparent about potential reactions. The government also compensates for proven vaccine-related injuries.
"The most convincing thing I can say is that my daughter has all her vaccines and that every pediatrician and public health person I know has vaccinated their kids," Meyerowitz-Katz said. "No one would do that if they thought there were serious risks."
