The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the cases of measles jumped to about 17, 300 in the first 11 months of this year compared to last year’s statistics. This rise is mostly seen in conflict-stricken areas in the south. Overcrowding in temporary shelter areas, low vaccine penetration and migration worsened the measles problem in the south. This year, only 7% of eligible children in these areas were immunized against measles.
Further, in an interview with GMA News, Lulu Bravo of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination said that they are seeing a rise in measles cases because the trust in vaccines is declining this year. Bravo says that this situation is disturbing and that Filipinos are “scientifically illiterate.”
Anti-Dengue Vaccine Controversy Linked To Low Trust In PH Immunization Program
Head of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of the Philippines, Anna Lisa Ong-Lim said that 69% of children who had measles this year had no immunization due to various reasons, including their parents’ refusal. She added that the controversial events behind the anti-dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, is partly to blame as to why people have low trust in the country’s mass immunization program. This affected the confidence in vaccines overall.
In a poll conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, it is found that only 32% of the 1,500 Filipinos surveyed trusted vaccines. This has significantly decreased compared to 93% in 2015.
Measles diagnoses in Europe are at a rise, according to study. The drop in measles vaccination rates is not only seen in the Philippines but is also evident in Europe. The Medical University of Vienna led by Ruth Kutalek, PhD., conducted interviews in Vienna, Austria with public health experts, professionals who are vaccine-hesitant, as well as vaccine-hesitant parents.
They found that one of the main reasons why parents decide not to vaccinate their children is because they believe that measles does not pose a large enough threat. They are also concerned with the side effects that may damage their immune system that is not yet fully mature. This has much to do with the influence of anti-vaccine campaigns.
In addition, Newsweek reports that many believe that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine (MMR vaccine) is linked with autism despite the scientific studies that debunk this myth. Because of this, experts are faced with the urgency of finding ways to explain to the society that vaccines are safe and helpful.