Measles Surges in US, Raising Concerns for Finland Amidst Vaccine Hesitancy

The United States is facing a concerning measles outbreak, with over 2,300 cases reported by late July, surpassing the entirety of the previous year and setting a new record for the 21st century. The majority of those infected are children, for whom the disease and its complications pose significant risks. Last year alone, two children died from measles in the US, and at least 150 required hospitalization.

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The United States has recorded more than 2,300 cases of measles this year. The number of sick people is already higher than in the whole of last year, even though last year also set a record for this century.

This resurgence is not surprising to experts, as national vaccination coverage declined during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not recovered to adequate levels. The national average masks significant regional disparities, with some areas achieving only 80% coverage, far below the 95% threshold needed to break transmission chains. The situation has been further complicated by public health figures who have downplayed the threat of measles and raised questions about vaccine safety.

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The vast majority of those infected are children, for whom the disease and its complications are particularly dangerous. In the United States alone, two children died from measles last year. At least 150 had to be hospitalized.

Experts anticipate thousands of measles cases annually in the US for the foreseeable future, representing a major setback. The US had largely eradicated domestic measles around the turn of the millennium, a public health achievement hailed by specialists. However, the country is not alone in facing this challenge; measles has been resurging across Europe since 2022, with local epidemics occurring in several EU countries this year.

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The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has warned that Finland is also not safe from them if high vaccination coverage is not maintained.

Finland is also vulnerable. The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has warned that Finland is not immune if high vaccination coverage is not maintained. Concerns were heightened in July when the Päijät-Häme wellbeing services county reported signs of increasing vaccine hesitancy in maternal and child health clinics and school healthcare. This trend, attributed partly to increased skepticism toward authorities and the decreased visibility of infectious diseases, is amplified by anti-vaccine content spreading on social media, particularly TikTok. While overall vaccination coverage in Päijät-Häme remains good, the rising proportion of unvaccinated infants is a growing problem.

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The increase in vaccine hesitancy is also a problem in Finland.