The Facts
On Wednesday, the WHO and CDC released a joint report warning that millions of children worldwide are vulnerable to measles as vaccination rates have declined to their lowest levels since 2008.
According to the report, the decline in vaccinations is largely attributed to the COVID pandemic, which saw many forgo routine shots, with nearly 40M children reportedly missing a measles vaccine dose in 2021 — a record high.
The Spin
Narrative A
During the pandemic, the world — in a concerted effort to fight COVID — came to a screeching halt, and we're still experiencing the aftershocks of it today. With measles now posing a concerning threat to a large part of the world, it's time to re-apply that same effort and get vaccination rates back on track.
Narrative B
While the details of this report are concerning, the media has an obligation to present the facts honestly and accurately without spreading alarmism and without polarizing large portions of the population — as was done during the COVID pandemic. The reality is that outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases aren't a new concern, and talks of catastrophe are only counterproductive.