lead:
From January to May 13, 2025, Australia has recorded 71 cases of measles this year, which exceeds the total number of measles cases in 2024 and reaches the peak since 2019. The measles virus spreads easily and has high contagion rate. Its typical symptoms involve fever and rash. It poses serious threats on various systems in the human body, and severe complications may cause potentially fatal.
The vaccine hesitancy
The Australian government’s Department of Health and Aged Care released a statement pointing out that vaccination can effectively prevent measles. Despite current efforts, the coverage rate of measles vaccine in Australia is lower than the 95% target recommended by the WHO. Approximately 92.21% of two-year-old children in the nation have been vaccinated against measles. Yet this figure is insufficient to achieve the necessary herd immunity.
Among people born between 1966 and 1994, some individuals received only one dose of the vaccine. This group of individuals, along with those with weakened immune systems or pregnant women, are considered high-risk populations during the outbreak.
Despite having full access to vaccination services, some individuals choose to refuse or delay vaccination. The “vaccine hesitancy” indicates a lack of confidence in science among the general public.
Misinformation about vaccinations
Previously, the Australian government has introduced specific compulsory vaccination measures, such as “No Jab, No Pay”. However, an anti-vaccination group in Australia formed a network community comprising approximately 15,000 individuals. These members regularly communicate with each other and use social media to support parents, helping children who are not vaccinated gain access to childcare services.
Jess Kaufman, a vaccine specialist at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, pointed out that the decline in trust in medical institutions has made certain parents more vulnerable to misleading information about vaccinations.
One key challenge
Newsbreakfast shared an interview clip with Jess Kaufman on Facebook. In this interview, Kaufman pointed out an alarming trend: the rate of childhood vaccinations in Australia has been declining since it peaked in 2020.
“Social media may be one of the biggest challenges,” she said.
Kaufman specifically criticized platforms such as Instagram and TikTok for spreading “anti-vaccine narratives”, which have weakened the public’s trust in vaccination.
The cost that has emerged locally
The gap in measles vaccination has become a major public health concern in current Australian society, and the consequences of “vaccine hesitancy” is gradually emerging in this nation. On February 28, 2025, two Australian individuals who had not traveled abroad were diagnosed with measles.
Meanwhile, the governance challenges related to the 2025 measles epidemic timeline also have worthy of deep reflection. For instance, When the first imported case emerged, did the relevant authorities use emergency vaccination measures? During the school break in February 2025, was there real-time monitoring of the epidemic spread in Australia? If the relevant government departments do not attach sufficient importance to the issue and do not use stringent preventive and control measures, it will undoubtedly a decline in public confidence in the public authority departments.
Expert interview
Expert insights from medical professionals can increase the public’s confidence in the safety of vaccination.
Dr. Alice Jiao, a Australian-based practicing physician and dermatologist, mentioned that the current safety profile of the measles vaccine has an outstanding safety record.Allergic reactions are infrequent, and its side effects mostly manifest as “minor and temporary” symptoms.
“According to the official WHO data, the overall risk associated with vaccines is extremely minimal, and the protection rate exceeds 95%,” she said.
In terms of the varying risks between vaccines and natural infections, Alice Jiao emphasized that contracting measles through natural infection may result in severe outcomes such as infant death and brain inflammation. On the other hand, vaccination represents “the best approach to control major health risks with minimal cost.”
Regarding the “controversy over the safety of vaccine components,” Dr. Alice Jiao mentioned that the safety of ingredients such as aluminum adjuvants in vaccines has been scientifically confirmed through many years of research.
“The amount of ingredients in vaccines is well below the safety limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO),” she stated.
Alice also suggested that individuals should place more emphasis on referring to the information and statistics from authoritative research institutions such as PubMed instead of “non-scientific sources”.
A doctor is sharing her views on how the general public can find reliable sources of information about vaccines. (Video Credit: Scarlett Huang)
What should be done?
To tackle the public’s hesitation about the measles vaccine and restore public trust, it is necessary to create a green ecosystem for the dissemination of effective health information through technological governance while also building a communication bridge through value-based dialogue. The Australian federal government should pay significant attention to further promote the free vaccination policy. Also, more beneficial strategies can be investigated.
For instance, the government should establish a specialized vaccine assessment agency to guarantee the safety of vaccines thoroughly; the health department need to develop an incentive system for vaccinations, focusing on increasing the public’s willingness to get vaccinated voluntarily rather than solely imposing it; Medical institutions should create official accounts and make effective use of social media, breaking through the “information bubble” with credible communication channels. Combine clinical practice with prevention, balancing technical skills and humanistic concern.
Reflection
Currently, the number of people in Australia vaccinated against measles remains inadequate, which poses a test of scientific and rational methods. Vaccination is not a multiple-choice for the public. Instead, it is a compulsory requirement for modern civilization, which relates to the resistance of the life immune system and the reliability of the social system significantly. Through transparent information and equal communication, as well as sincere care, it is possible to create a shared agreement on vaccination that requires no debate. Also, public trust can be cultivated as a strong defense against the virus.
Be the first to comment