Vaccine refusal threatens children's lives

Measles is a virus-borne infectious disease characterized by skin rashes usually seen in childhood. Measles, a vaccine-preventable disease, can be fatal in unvaccinated individuals. Experts warn about the increase in measles cases in recent years, which have decreased significantly with vaccination. Altınbaş University Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology Dr. Faculty Member Cansu Vatansever stated that the measles virus can be transmitted quite easily between people, and that the disease can have fatal consequences in all individuals, especially children, who have not been vaccinated or have not completed the vaccination program.

Stating that measles is transmitted as a result of inhalation by healthy individuals of the measles virus that infected individuals spread to the environment with aerosols coming out of their mouths and noses as a result of talking, coughing and sneezing, Dr. Cansu Vatansever said, “There is no need to come into direct contact with the infected individual to catch the disease. Even if you enter an area where an infected person is present a few hours later, the virus in the ambient air can infect healthy individuals. An infected individual can infect up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals around them. Measles, which is observed in the form of fever, weakness, skin rashes, can cause complications such as otitis media (middle ear inflammation), excessive fluid loss due to diarrhea, pneumonia, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), blindness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and death.

'The increase in measles cases in the world continues'

Stating that the increase in measles cases in the world continues, Dr. Cansu Vatansever said, 'According to the statement made by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), according to the results of the evaluation including 53 countries from Europe and Central Asia, 127,350 measles cases were detected in 2024 and this number is approximately 2 times the measles cases in 2023. According to preliminary data as of March 6, 2025, 38 measles-related deaths occurred. In our country, 51 cases were recorded in 2021, 125 cases in 2022, and this number increased to 4,959 in 2023.

Underlining that measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, Dr. Cansu Vatansever said, “Measles vaccine is the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella-mumps) vaccine included in the childhood vaccination calendar of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye. The vaccine is administered free of charge at Family Practices in two doses at the end of the 12th and 48th months. Due to the severe and fatal course of the disease, especially in children under 1 year of age, and the increase observed in measles cases, the first dose of the vaccine can be administered between 9-11 months in areas with epidemic risk, and the vaccine can be administered as a total of 3 doses.

'Speculations about vaccines cause an increase in the number of cases and deaths in vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles'

Stating that the vaccine provides long-term protection of approximately 97% in individuals who comply with the vaccination schedule, Dr. Cansu Vatansever underlined that speculations about vaccines, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to disruption in many vaccination schedules, especially childhood vaccines, and unfortunately led to an increase in the number of cases and deaths in vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.

Stating that the most important reasons for the increase in measles cases and measles-related deaths in recent years are due to vaccine refusal and vaccine instability, Dr. Cansu Vatansever said: 'While measles cases continue to increase in many different parts of the world such as Europe, Asia, America and Africa, measles cases pose a threat to our country. In 2024, one third of the measles cases detected were in Europe. In a globalizing world, infectious diseases can spread easily and rapidly between countries and even continents. Measles is not at epidemic levels in our country, but unvaccinated individuals are at risk due to outbreaks in different regions of the world,” he said, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

'The most effective way to prevent measles is vaccination'

Stating that most of the measles cases detected are children under the age of 5 who have never been vaccinated or are inadequately vaccinated, Dr. Cansu VATANSEVER said, 'In a significant number of measles cases, treatment may require hospitalization. The most important causes of measles-related infant deaths are dehydration and pneumonia due to diarrhea, while encephalitis was detected in children aged 10-14 years. In addition to children, the measles virus can also cause illness in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated adults. Adults with underlying diseases and weakened immunity are particularly at risk of measles-related complications. Measles during pregnancy can also lead to miscarriage or premature births.

Stating that the only way to prevent the disease is vaccination, Dr. Cansu Vatansever said: “Measles is one of the diseases that cause the highest number of deaths in unvaccinated children among vaccine-preventable diseases. However, it should not be forgotten that the disease can be observed in adults as well as children. Although measles is a disease that can cause fatal complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, it is a disease that can be easily prevented by following the vaccination program. Vaccination is the only way to prevent the development of measles and to prevent measles-related complications and deaths. It is the responsibility of parents not to allow unrealistic speculations about vaccines to threaten the lives of children.