The story of an unvaccinated South Carolina boy hospitalized with measles encephalitis (brain inflammation) since late January has drawn international attention. The 7-year-old’s parents sparked criticism online after saying they don’t regret not vaccinating their child. Responses to the story were overwhelmingly critical of parents who choose not to vaccinate, with many highlighting the serious and life-threatening risks associated with measles infection. South Carolina has reported nearly 1,000 cases in the largest U.S. measles outbreak in over 25 years.
Recommendation
News coverage of measles outbreaks highlights the real-world impact of vaccine hesitancy and the risks that vaccine-preventable diseases pose to unvaccinated children.
Messaging may explain that measles can cause severe illness, life-threatening complications, and lasting damage to a child’s immune system. Emphasizing that vaccination is the only safe way to prevent measles is recommended, as is explaining that measles vaccination is safe, 97 percent effective against infection, and provides lifelong protection. Health communicators may also emphasize that measles outbreaks happen when not enough people are vaccinated to prevent the virus from spreading.
Fact-checking sources: AAP, Johns Hopkins, Nemours KidsHealth
Communication resources: Read more on communicating about the ongoing measles outbreak
