Paradox of the vaccine

2015/03/16 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Farmakologia
• Mikrobiologia
• Etika
• Medikuntza

The news about the measles vaccine is not rare in recent times. For example, early in the year there was intense debate in the US. On the occasion of the appearance of measles in Disneyland in December. The apparition arose as a result of more and more parents failing to vaccinate their children in the area, and experts do not find a way to change their opinion.

In fact, the tendency to non-integration is spreading in some US states. and also in some European countries, especially in Britain. This has led to an increase and aggravation of measles cases, in those places where the measles vaccine is systematically emptied.

However, information campaigns made to change the trend have failed. Moreover, sometimes they have also suffered damage. For example, in the evaluation study of the impact of an information campaign, the attitude of parents who were against vaccinations was reinforced.

Although this issue has attracted the attention of experts and media, elsewhere in the world the problem is very different. Precisely this week it has been announced in the journal Science that during the Ebola outbreak vaccinations against measles had been interrupted by lack of resources. Thus, nine months ago and a million children between 5 years old are not integrated in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gina. The researchers have warned that, in case of not taking measures, there is a high risk of an epidemic occurring.

 

Published in the newspaper Berria.