According to epidemiologist Daniel Pastula, measles is an ancient disease caused by a virus that probably originated in cattle and jumped to humans around 500 B.C. Archeological evidence shows that one of the first written accounts of measles comes from a Persian physician named Rhazes in the ninth century. Fast forward to the 1100-1200 and measles epidemics were common in medieval Europe and western Asia. The virus arrived in the Americas in the 1500s with the first European colonists and annihilated large populations of native peoples.
Fast forward to the 1950s in the United States, and half a million cases of measles were reported every year – though the true number was probably closer to 4 million . It was so contagious; most children were thought to have contracted the disease by age 15.
Four years before I was born the first measles vaccine hit the markets in 1963. Consistent improvements in the vaccine and high vaccination rates over the decades caused the number of cases of measles to plummet.
Last week the first death of an unvaccinated child was reported in the United States. According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the last US measles death was in 2015.
More than 146 cases of the disease in Texas were made public last week, and currently, the CDC reports a total of 164 cases have been reported in nine states.
From half a million cases a year to zero. While measles was declared eradicated in 2000, something else was simultaneously happening. Opposition to vaccinations has existed as long as vaccination itself. People first opposed the smallpox vaccine in England and the United States in the mid to late 1800s. This resulted in the formation of anti-vaccination leagues. The following decades saw additional pushback from the public, such as those surrounding the safety and efficacy of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) immunization, the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and the use of a mercury-containing preservative called thimerosal.
One big difference between previous anti-vaccine movements and this one has been the role of social media and the dissemination of anti-vaccine information.
In 1998, Andrew Wakefield, a British physician, suggested a possible relationship between bowel disease, autism, and the MMR vaccine. A few years later, Wakefield alleged the vaccine was not properly tested before being put into use.
The media jumped all over these stories, igniting public fear and confusion over the safety of the vaccine. The Lancet, the journal that originally published Wakefield’s work, stated in 2004 that it should not have published the paper.
Subsequent research studies have been conducted to assess the safety of the MMR vaccine, and none of them have found a link between the vaccine and autism.
But the damage was already done, perhaps more profoundly, as the result of the subsequent rise of social media and influencers. MySpace (and yes, I had an account) was the first social media site to reach a million monthly active users. It reached this milestone around 2004. Most young people today gather their information from social media sites like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, etc. But unlike traditional media where journalists trained in unbiased reporting deliver the news, these new platforms are dominated by a small number of individuals known as influencers.
A recent study by researchers at McGill University found that the modern anti-vaccination movement is led by a relatively small number of devoted and typically well-financed influencers who have millions of followers. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, is perhaps the most visible and vocal leader of the anti-vaccination movement. He is also the new head of the Health and Human Services Department.
In a Fox News op-ed published Sunday, Kennedy wrote that the measles vaccine is protective to children and the broader community, yet he only recommended that parents consult with healthcare providers about the shot.
“Parents play a pivotal role in safeguarding their children’s health,” he wrote. “All parents should consult with their healthcare providers to understand their options to get the [measles, mumps, rubella] vaccine. The decision to vaccinate is a personal one.”
Thomas Corry, the top spokesperson at the Health and Human Services Department abruptly quit the agency after clashing with Secretary Kennedy and his close aides over their management of the agency amid a growing measles outbreak.
Although the time periods have changed, the emotions and deep-rooted beliefs—whether philosophical, political, or spiritual—that underlie vaccine opposition have remained relatively consistent since Edward Jenner introduced vaccination. The big difference in my humble opinion, is social media.
As internet personality Ryan Higa wrote, “Fake news and rumors thrive online because few verify what's real and always bias towards content that reinforces their own biases.” Do the research before making a decision that could affect not only life of your child, but the entire community.
Heather McIlvaine-Newsad is a Professor of Anthropology at Western Illinois University. Her research focuses on collaborative action for sustainability.
The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the university or TSPR.
Diverse viewpoints are welcomed and encouraged.