Experts Affirm Measles Vaccine Effective in Preventing Transmission

Misinformation regarding the safety of the measles vaccine is circulating on social media. In one post on Facebook, quoted from AFP Fact Check on Thursday (26/3), it states, “Measles is just a common infection that can be effectively addressed by the human immune system.” The post also claims that vaccines are unsafe and that natural antibodies after recovering from measles are 5-10 times better than those from vaccines. Moreover, the narrative includes provocative statements such as stopping the killing of citizens with the wrong medicine and unsafe vaccines. However, experts affirm that these claims are untrue. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that measles is not merely a mild infection, but a disease that can cause serious complications, especially in children. A paediatric infectious disease specialist from Johns Hopkins University, Aaron Milstone, explains that the risks of measles should not be underestimated. “One in 1,000 children who contract measles will die. Others will suffer from progressive neurological diseases,” he said. Milstone also emphasised that the vaccine is safe and works by stimulating the immune system to provide long-term protection. “Some children experience fever after the vaccine, but that fever is the body’s response to the vaccine and does not carry the same risks as the virus,” he added. In agreement, a paediatric specialist from the National University of Singapore, Lee Bee Wah, refutes various alternative methods that are circulating. She considers claims such as nasal irrigation, salt water gargling, or consuming certain fruits as ways to treat measles to be unfounded. “The best way to avoid measles infection is to protect oneself. Vaccination produces immunity that prevents the virus,” said Lee. To date, there is no specific therapy to cure measles directly. Therefore, vaccination remains the most effective step to prevent transmission as well as to suppress the risk of serious complications from the disease. The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) reminds the public to increase vigilance against measles transmission ahead of the Eid holiday travel and leave period.