The science is crystal-clear; anti-vax thinking is anything but

Opinion

It’s a disease we thought we had under control. For decades, measles was something we read about in history books, a relic of a bygone era where vaccines were either not available or not widely used.

But today, as Manitoba, and much of Canada, faces a worrisome uptick in measles cases, we’re reminded that the past is never as far behind as we think. And we have the anti-vax movement to thank for it.

In recent weeks, Manitoba has seen a troubling rise in measles cases. A disease that was, just a few years ago, nearly eradicated in Canada, has now become a pressing public health concern once again.

Cases have spiked in several provinces, including Ontario and Alberta, prompting health officials to issue renewed warnings about the dangers of the highly contagious virus.

At the heart of this disturbing trend lies an uncomfortable truth: the growing tide of vaccine hesitancy and refusal that has been gaining momentum since the COVID-19 pandemic.

What was once a fringe movement of anti-vaccine activists has now seeped into the mainstream, fuelled by misinformation and amplified on social media platforms.

The result? A perfect storm that’s putting vulnerable populations at risk and undermining decades of hard-won progress in the fight against preventable diseases.

Before COVID-19 hit, Canada’s vaccination rates were among the globe’s highest. Measles, once a regular part of childhood illness, was virtually eliminated in many parts of the world due to widespread immunization efforts.

Yet, as COVID-19 spread across the globe, so did the influence of anti-vaccine rhetoric. Fuelled by distrust of government health mandates and a general sense of unease during the pandemic, a growing number of Canadians began to question the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

For some, it started with COVID-19. The spread of bogus information about the mRNA vaccines led many to delay or refuse getting the shot.

The pandemic’s polarization exposed just how susceptible people could be to wild and inaccurate claims circulating on social media, where pseudo-science often went unchecked, and conspiracy theories found fertile ground.

But it didn’t stop with COVID-19. Once those fears were planted, they began to spill over into other areas of public health, particularly childhood vaccinations. Groups that had previously advocated against immunization for a variety of diseases, including polio, measles and whooping cough gained new traction.

As vaccine coverage dipped, we began to see what public health experts had warned about for years: diseases that were once nearly eradicated began to reappear.

In a world where information travels faster than ever before, the role of social media in shaping public opinion cannot be overstated. Platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) are breeding grounds for misinformation, where anti-vaccine activists spread falsehoods about immunizations with little to no accountability.

Algorithms, designed to keep users engaged, amplify the most sensational and often inaccurate content, leading more and more people to view it, believe it, and—most dangerously—act on it.

But the damage doesn’t end with those who fall prey to these falsehoods. Even those who may not consider themselves anti-vaxers may delay or skip vaccinations out of caution or confusion, influenced by the fear-mongering that pervades online spaces. The impact is cumulative: as more people decide not to vaccinate or delay immunization, herd immunity weakens and diseases such as measles start to resurface.

Measles may seem like a relic of the past, but its resurgence is a stark reminder of what is at stake. The virus is highly contagious, more so than almost any other disease. It spreads quickly through the air, infecting virtually anyone who has not been vaccinated or is not immune. For children, the consequences can be severe: pneumonia, brain swelling, permanent disability and even death, albeit in rare cases.

Health officials in Manitoba have already reported several outbreaks, and the fear is that the situation could worsen this summer with increased travel and social gatherings. A single case of measles can spark a chain reaction of infections, particularly among unvaccinated children, as we’ve seen in previous outbreaks around the world. Even more concerning is the potential for measles to spread to other vulnerable populations, including infants too young to be vaccinated and those with weakened immune systems.

The rise of measles in Canada is a call to action. It’s a stark reminder that the fight against preventable diseases is never fully won.

As a society, it’s crucial that we confront the dangerous consequences of anti-science rhetoric.

The rise of measles should not be seen as an isolated issue, but as a warning of the dangers that come with misinformation, ignorance and fear.

There is a solution: get vaccinated. Get your kids vaccinated. The scientific evidence is clear and has been for decades. Vaccines are safe, effective and they save lives.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca