Recent measles outbreaks in several US and UK states have caused alarm among health officials and reignited controversy over declining vaccination rates.
Resurgence of Measles
On January 16, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health reported another person infected with measles, bringing the number of confirmed cases to nine. According to health department spokesperson James Garrow, the outbreak started when a person contracted the highly contagious virus outside the US and exposed a parent and child at a children's hospital. This exposure led to an outbreak in a daycare and affected at least five children.
The Virginia Department of Health also announced on January 13 that a case of measles had been confirmed in a person who returned to Northern Virginia after international travel. Meanwhile, the Georgia Department of Public Health also announced a confirmed single case of measles in an unvaccinated resident of the metro Atlanta area. This has been the first case of measles in the state since 2020.
Outside the US, the measles outbreak continues to widen. Since October 2023, 216 confirmed cases and 103 probable cases have been in the United Kingdom. The UK Health Security Agency has declared a national incident to warn about the growing public health risk.
Measles was eliminated in the US in 2000 after zero virus spread was reported for over a year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this success is largely due to a highly effective vaccination campaign.
However, the risk of measles in pockets of the US is still possible since the virus is not eliminated worldwide. There are several countries, such as India, Pakistan, and Iraq, with active outbreaks.
READ ALSO: WHO Declares Measles as a Growing Global Threat As Over 40 Million Kids Missed Doses of Vaccine
Falling Vaccination Rates
According to American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson Dr. Christina Johns, the vaccination rates against measles in the US remain low, particularly among children. A 2023 report from the CDC revealed that about 92% of American children have been vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR vaccine) by age 2. This is way below the federal target of 95%.
The CDC also reported that the percentage of kindergartens receiving state-required measles vaccines also falls behind the federal target for the 2022-2023 school year. The rate of vaccine exemptions for children has also reached the highest level ever recorded in the US.
The agency recommends that children get two doses of MMR vaccine, the first at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at 4 to 6 years of age. Getting one dose is only 93% effective, while receiving two doses gives 97% effectiveness.
According to experts, there are a few reasons for the decline in vaccination rates. One is the 1998 paper published by Andrew Wakefield, who claimed that MMR shots caused autism. While the paper has since been debunked, fears still exist among the public.
It is also believed that the COVID pandemic caused another problem. During the early days of the pandemic, people were afraid to go to doctor's offices, causing a delay in children being up to date on vaccinations. When COVID-19 vaccines got politicized, the confidence in vaccination in general decreased as well.
As a response, health officials continue to educate parents regarding the safety of vaccines. They also advocate for starting vaccine education in adolescence.
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