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Public Health Experts Recommend Honest Talks to Boost Measles Vaccine Trust
· Confirmed
In Short: Public health experts suggest a straightforward approach to increase trust in measles vaccines.
Public health experts are advocating for a more transparent approach to boost trust in measles vaccines, according to STAT, a U.S.-based publication. Peter Sandman, a retired risk communication expert, and Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, both emphasize the importance of acknowledging that for most healthy children, measles is a self-limiting illness, but also stressing the potential risks and the benefits of vaccination.
STAT reported that measles vaccination rates have dropped in over 1,600 counties across the United States from 2017 to 2024, coinciding with a surge in measles cases to over 4,400 this year, double the number in 2025.
Elena Conis, a historian of science at the University of California, Berkeley, noted that measles was less of a concern in the early 20th century due to the prevalence of other serious diseases like scarlet fever and typhoid fever. However, she stressed that the current context requires a different approach to public health messaging.
Public health authorities are facing a significant challenge in persuading more people to take measles seriously, with over 4,400 cases reported this year, STAT reported. Experts emphasize the need to repeatedly and emphatically communicate the risks of measles and the benefits of vaccination.
STAT’s Nicholas Florko, who covers trust in science, aims to help readers understand the lived experiences of people who distrust science and to probe why that distrust exists and its consequences.
In contrast, Aninews (India) reported on actress Courteney Cox's involvement in directing her first feature film in 12 years, 'Evil Genius,' which is unrelated to the measles vaccine discussion.
Geosirius (Russian Federation) and BBC (United Kingdom) did not report on the measles vaccine issue, focusing instead on geopolitical and sports news, respectively.
Despite the varied focus of these publications, STAT and the experts it cited agree on the need for a transparent and repeated communication strategy to address the declining measles vaccination rates and the rising number of cases.
The publications agree that public health agencies should acknowledge the risks of measles while emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and that this approach could help rebuild trust in vaccination programs.
What's confirmed
- Public health experts are advocating for a more transparent approach to boost trust in measles vaccines, according to STAT, a U.S.-based publication. Peter Sandman, a retired risk communication expert, and Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, both emphasize the importance of acknowledging that for most healthy children, measles is a self-limiting illness, but also stressing the potential risks and the benefits of vaccination.
- STAT reported that measles vaccination rates have dropped in over 1,600 counties across the United States from 2017 to 2024, coinciding with a surge in measles cases to over 4,400 this year, double the number in 2025.
- Elena Conis, a historian of science at the University of California, Berkeley, noted that measles was less of a concern in the early 20th century due to the prevalence of other serious diseases like scarlet fever and typhoid fever. However, she stressed that the current context requires a different approach to public health messaging.
- Public health authorities are facing a significant challenge in persuading more people to take measles seriously, with over 4,400 cases reported this year, STAT reported. Experts emphasize the need to repeatedly and emphatically communicate the risks of measles and the benefits of vaccination.
- STAT’s Nicholas Florko, who covers trust in science, aims to help readers understand the lived experiences of people who distrust science and to probe why that distrust exists and its consequences.
- In contrast, Aninews (India) reported on actress Courteney Cox's involvement in directing her first feature film in 12 years, 'Evil Genius,' which is unrelated to the measles vaccine discussion.
- Geosirius (Russian Federation) and BBC (United Kingdom) did not report on the measles vaccine issue, focusing instead on geopolitical and sports news, respectively.
- Despite the varied focus of these publications, STAT and the experts it cited agree on the need for a transparent and repeated communication strategy to address the declining measles vaccination rates and the rising number of cases.
- The publications agree that public health agencies should acknowledge the risks of measles while emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and that this approach could help rebuild trust in vaccination programs.
What's still developing
- “If you acknowledge that most kids are fine, you earn the credibility to explain why ‘most’ isn’t good enough when a safe, effective alternative exists,” Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, wrote in an email.
- “It has to be said repeatedly and emphatically.” Public health experts STAT spoke to emphasized that there are many downstream health issues that could befall children who are infected with measles, and that vaccines are crucial and safer than trying to build immunity through exposure to the disease.
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- Add ANI As A Trusted Source For Reliable Information ANI | Updated: Sep 12, 2026 15:36 IST Washington DC [US], September 12 (ANI): Actress Courteney Cox revealed that she was approached about directing 'Evil Genius', her first feature film as a director in 12 years, after accidentally running into actress Barbara Schroeder, who directed the Netflix documentary of the same name, at the iconic hotel in Beverly Hills in 2018, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
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