In light of a burgeoning measles outbreak and a renewed wave of public skepticism, largely propelled by inconsistent governmental communication, Dr. Carol McLay, the 2025 President of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), lends her voice to the conversation. In her dialogue with Infection Control Today (ICT), she underscores the proven safety of the measles vaccine, tackles the deleterious impact of misleading vaccine information, and underscores the significant role that infection prevention professionals perform in safeguarding public health and rebuilding confidence in vaccination programs.
The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella), as per Dr. McLay, holds a place as one of our most effective and meticulously researched vaccines. Two doses deliver about 97% protection against measles, while a single dose offers around 93% effectiveness. The impact has been so potent that vaccination efforts successfully eliminated measles transmission in the US by 2000. Worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) approximates that measles vaccination efforts have prevented a staggering 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023. This incredible achievement stands as a testament to what infection prevention initiatives can accomplish.
Addressing public fears, particularly those regarding autism, Dr. McLay reassures that there exists no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The 1998 study raising this concern has been emphatically discredited and retracted. Subsequent studies encompassing millions of children found absolutely no correlation.
False information, unfortunately, has played a role in fuelling measles outbreaks. The issue goes more profound than misinformation and implicates trust. Over the past few decades, vaccination rates have seen a decline, particularly in communities where faith in public health services has diminished. When measles vaccination coverage drops below the needed threshold for community protection, roughly 95%, we witness outbreaks, just as we are presently in the US. Our strategy, therefore, should be less about delivering facts to those whose trust has been broken and more about building relationships, fostering empathy, and creating an environment for honest, respectful dialogue.
Public trust is fragile. Any undermining of it in vaccination programs has both immediate and long-lasting repercussions. In the short term, outbursts of vaccine-preventable diseases can result, with an ensuing increase in hospitalizations and unnecessary deaths. In the long run, wearing down public trust can lead to a resurgence of diseases that were previously eliminated or controlled. Most alarmingly, it fosters mistrust in other public health recommendations, thus weakening our public health infrastructure.
Infection preventionists play a central role in managing outbreaks within healthcare settings and the wider community, from identifying suspected cases and initiating preventative measures, to collaborating with public health departments on contact tracing, community education, and vaccination initiatives. They are often the most trusted voices in their organizations and communities, indispensable for combatting disease spread and fostering long-term resilience through education and policy advocacy. Organizations like APIC provide the training and resources to speak confidently and consistently about vaccine safety and effectiveness.