The measles outbreak of 2019 reached a milestone this week, and Clark County has played an ignominious role in the surge. Nationally, the number of measles cases reached 387, passing in three months the total that was recorded in all of 2018.
With 73 of those confirmed cases being in Clark County, the milestone calls for a reiteration of our belief that all people who are medically able should receive vaccinations. Two decades ago, measles were considered eradicated in the United States, but a growing anti-vaccine movement that embraces junk science has opened the door for a return of the disease.
Forgive us if we echo what we have written editorially in the recent past. It might sound repetitive, but the only way to combat misinformation is to frequently and firmly repeat facts supported by decades of scientific research. That is particularly important when fighting fraudulent science that can be spread on the internet more easily than a contagious disease.
Much of that misinformation centers upon an unfounded belief that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can cause autism in children. This stems from a fabricated 1998 “study” by a British doctor; the “study” has since been discredited, and the doctor has been stripped of his medical license, but the impact of his deceit continues to linger.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides scientifically sound information about the safety of the MMR vaccine as well as links to research that has found no link between vaccines and autism. Since 2003, nine studies funded by the CDC have denied any connection; other independent studies have reached the same conclusion. As advocacy organization AutismSpeaks writes, “The results of this research is clear: Vaccines do not cause autism,” and the American Academy of Pediatrics provides a comprehensive list of the research.
Parents who have concerns about the danger of vaccines should go beyond Facebook in seeking out facts. Anecdotal evidence should not be conflated with research.
None of that, however, fully explains the dangers of eschewing vaccines. Some argue that if nearly everybody is vaccinated, there is little risk to a handful of people foregoing the recommended immunizations. It should be a matter of personal choice, they say, and they should be allowed to place themselves at risk of the disease.
The problem is that not everybody can receive immunizations; some are too young, and others have medical conditions that prevent them from being vaccinated. In addition, immunizations are not 100 percent effective. Some people who receive vaccines are not immune to measles.
In other words, failing to receive the MMR vaccine because of philosophical concerns places others at risk, and that is where the argument about personal liberty falls short. Clark County has spent $823,000 in response to this year’s outbreak — an unnecessary cost that is borne by all residents.
The state House of Representatives has passed a bill that would no longer allow philosophical exemptions to the MMR vaccine. Co-sponsored by Southwest Washington lawmakers Paul Harris and Monica Stonier, it also received support from Rep. Sharon Wylie and was opposed by Brandon Vick, Larry Hoff and Vicki Kraft. It now is under consideration in the Senate.
While the Senate should pass the bill, legislation is not the only way to fight misinformation. Parents must research the science behind the issue, lest their children become part of another ignominious statistic.
