Resurgence of Preventable Diseases Highlights Growing Vaccine Hesitancy Crisis

Once nearly eradicated in the United States, measles has made an alarming comeback, with at least 1,100 cases reported by the CDC this year—though experts suggest the actual number could be closer to 3,000. This resurgence, alongside increasing pertussis (whooping cough) outbreaks and rising childhood influenza deaths, represents a troubling public health trend with a common denominator: declining vaccination rates.

“Our children are suffering needlessly,” warns Dr. Paul Offit, professor of vaccinology and pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and a member of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.

According to Offit, a renowned infectious disease expert who co-invented the RotaTeq rotavirus vaccine, the current crisis stems from widespread misinformation about vaccine safety. CDC data confirms more parents are exempting their children from vaccination for non-medical reasons than ever before, while adult vaccination rates are similarly declining.

The consequences have been swift and severe. Three measles deaths were recorded in the past year—more than the total for the previous 25 years combined. Child deaths from pertussis more than doubled last year, while influenza claimed 216 young lives, a figure not seen since the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

“The consequences of not fearing these diseases, the consequences of this medical-freedom movement, is that our children are suffering needlessly,” Offit emphasizes.

The contrast with previous generations is striking. “If you look at the late 1800s and compare that to now, we live 40 years longer than we used to. Arguably the biggest reason for that is vaccines,” Offit explains. He traces a history where each generation faced different fears—from diphtheria and pertussis that killed thousands annually in the early 20th century, to polio that paralyzed up to 50,000 children yearly in the 1950s.

“My grandchildren were born in the past few years, and my daughter-in-law and my son aren’t scared of any of those diseases. We’ve virtually eliminated those diseases. We’ve eliminated the fear of those diseases,” Offit notes, highlighting the paradox of vaccination success—the very absence of disease has made some question the need for continued vigilance.

While acknowledging rare vaccine side effects, Offit stresses that these risks pale in comparison to the diseases themselves. Regarding myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination in young men, he clarifies: “Myocarditis following the COVID vaccine is generally short-lived, transient, and self-resolving without sequelae. Myocarditis as a consequence of the disease is far more common and more likely to cause permanent harm and even death.”

The erosion of trust in medical science didn’t begin with COVID-19. Vaccine hesitancy traces back to the 18th century with the first smallpox vaccine, but the modern anti-vaccine movement gained significant momentum in 1982 following a television report linking the pertussis vaccine to serious side effects. The subsequent litigation nearly collapsed the vaccine industry until the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act established protection mechanisms.

A more recent catalyst came in 1998 when Andrew Wakefield published a now-retracted paper in The Lancet suggesting the MMR vaccine caused autism. “The paper was horribly flawed,” Offit states, noting that 24 subsequent studies have found no link between vaccines and autism. Nevertheless, the damage was done, with about 10-15% of parents of children with autism still believing vaccines were responsible.

The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated matters. “Science and scientists and public health officials took a hit during the early stages of COVID,” Offit acknowledges. Public health measures like travel restrictions, school closures, and mask mandates were perceived by some as government overreach, fostering mistrust.

Communication missteps also played a role. “We could have done a better job very early in explaining this,” Offit reflects. “To say, ‘The purpose of this vaccine is to keep you out of the hospital, keep you out of the intensive care unit, keep you out of the morgue, and it’s not going to protect you against mild or moderate disease for long.'”

Rebuilding trust now requires finding trusted community voices to champion vaccination. During the pandemic, Dr. Ala Stanford’s Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium successfully vaccinated 50,000 people in predominantly Black and brown communities in Philadelphia—demonstrating the impact of targeted, community-based approaches.

“You have to try and figure out the best way to get your information out there,” Offit concludes. “Social media has made it really hard to get above the noise of the misinformation and disinformation. It’s a new game, and we have to get better at playing it.”

Despite current challenges, Offit remains ultimately optimistic: “Science is a powerful thing to have on your side. Although we may feel like science is losing its place as a source of trust, we live longer, better lives because of advances in science and technology. And that’s not going to change.”