In recent years, many news channels have been casting doubt on the safety of vaccines, specifically the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is designed to protect people against measles, mumps, and rubella. Before the vaccine was created, millions of people would die of measles worldwide. The separate vaccines for the three diseases were created in the early 1960s and then combined into a single vaccine in 1971. Since its release, mortality rates have dropped significantly.
To further reassure the public, scientists have conducted numerous testing and research studies, and the results consistently show that the MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and unrelated to autism, except for one research study. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means it is present from birth. However, recently, especially since the appointment of Robert Kennedy Jr., who has made subtle comments about the safety of vaccines, as HHS secretary, more and more people are being led to believe that getting vaccinated will give their kids autism.
The one exception to the result of vaccine safety was conducted by Andrew Wakefield. In 1998, Wakefield and 12 colleagues published a research study in a UK journal, The Lancet. The results suggested that the MMR vaccine caused autism in children. However, the study had a small sample size (12 children) and speculative conclusions. Because of reports of inaccuracies, conflict of interest, and ethical concerns, the paper was retracted. Eventually, Wakefield and the other authors were charged with fraud because they picked and chose results to make it seem like there was a connection between autism and the MMR vaccine.
Despite the overwhelming amount of research that contradicts the Wakefield paper, several news channels have been spotlighting this already discredited theory. This has a strong impact on people who watch the news but don’t know the science and details themselves. If an unmedically educated person watches the news, then they’ll have no reason not to believe the Health and Human Services Secretary. However, when someone who has put thought into researching, or even just fact-checks what they see, they’ll know that since autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, that can’t be possible.
Even for people who don’t pay attention to the news or politics, the news still spreads fast. From mouth to mouth, the danger of vaccines is becoming increasingly worse. By the time it circulates, even the flu shot may be ineffective.
This poses a potential danger, because fewer and fewer people will get the necessary vaccines. As of 2023, more than half of Americans believe that the flu shot will cause the flu, and 16% of Americans believe that all vaccines cause autism. In June 2024, 1 in 4 Americans believed that the MMR vaccine causes autism. In the past year, with all the media attention on vaccines and their alleged impacts, they are likely to have grown.
With all this in mind, people should consider the facts and ask themselves this question. Will vaccine policies be decided by science or speculation? It is an important one, especially in light of the measles outbreaks happening across the world. In Texas, America, two unvaccinated children died of measles. These deaths call for action among all people. There is an urgent need for decision-making based on evidence, not hearsay. In working to counter the detrimental spread of public health misinformation, lives will be saved.
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