Fact Check: Examining the History of the Measles Vaccine

The global resurgence of measles has sparked renewed debates over vaccination, prompting health experts to revisit the history of this once-common childhood disease and the vaccine that dramatically reduced its prevalence.

Before the introduction of an effective vaccine in 1963, measles was nearly universal, with approximately 3-4 million Americans infected annually. The disease claimed an estimated 400-500 lives each year in the United States alone, while tens of thousands of patients required hospitalization. Globally, the impact was even more devastating, particularly in regions with limited healthcare resources.

Dr. Anthony Facui, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, described measles as “one of the most contagious viruses we know.” The disease spreads through airborne transmission, with the virus capable of lingering in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room.

The breakthrough in measles prevention came from the work of Dr. John Enders and his colleagues at Boston Children’s Hospital. In 1954, they successfully isolated the measles virus, laying the groundwork for vaccine development. For this achievement, Dr. Enders received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Building on this foundation, Dr. Maurice Hilleman, a microbiologist at Merck & Co., developed the first measles vaccine that received FDA approval in 1963. His work represented a watershed moment in public health, offering protection against a disease that had been a fixture of childhood for generations.

The initial vaccine was further refined into the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in 1971, enhancing convenience and improving vaccination rates. By 1978, the CDC had set an ambitious goal to eliminate measles from the United States by 1982.

While this initial target proved elusive, vaccination campaigns continued to drive down infection rates dramatically. The turning point came in 2000, when the United States officially declared measles eliminated, meaning there was no continuous disease transmission for more than 12 months. This achievement demonstrated the remarkable efficacy of widespread vaccination programs.

However, the story of measles didn’t end there. Despite its elimination in the United States and other developed nations, the disease remained endemic in many parts of the world. International travel, combined with declining vaccination rates in certain communities, led to periodic outbreaks even in countries where the disease had been previously controlled.

Recent years have witnessed a troubling resurgence of measles globally. The World Health Organization reported a 30% increase in measles cases worldwide in 2023 compared to the previous year. In the United States, the CDC recorded over 300 confirmed cases across 31 states in 2023, the highest number since 2019.

Public health officials attribute this resurgence to several factors, including vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation, disruptions to routine immunization programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased global mobility.

“What we’re seeing now represents a significant step backward in global health security,” says Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Measles is entirely preventable through vaccination, making these outbreaks particularly tragic.”

The MMR vaccine has consistently proven to be both safe and effective. Two doses provide approximately 97% protection against measles infection, according to CDC data. Despite extensive safety monitoring, serious adverse reactions remain extremely rare.

Health authorities continue to emphasize that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. Measles can lead to serious complications including pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and in rare cases, a fatal degenerative brain disorder called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) that can occur years after the initial infection.

As outbreaks continue to emerge, public health officials are intensifying efforts to boost vaccination rates through education and outreach programs. They stress that maintaining high levels of immunity through vaccination remains the most effective strategy for protecting communities and preventing the disease from regaining its former foothold.

The resurgence of measles serves as a potent reminder that public health achievements require constant vigilance and that diseases once thought conquered can return when preventive measures are neglected or abandoned.