WHO warns of measles resurgence as cases exceed 10 million in 2023
Al Jazeera2 days
Report: Measles Cases Increased 20% Worldwide in 2023
Above: A vial containing the measles-rubella vaccine. Image copyright: Subaas Shrestha/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Facts
According to reports released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, estimated measles cases increased by 20% from 2022 to 2023 — attributed mostly to a falling rate of vaccination.
Last year, estimated measles cases worldwide increased to 10.3M. More than 22M children missed their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023, while 74% of the 83% of children who received the first then received their second dose.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Vaccine mandates are a form of tyranny, and citizens of free countries should never be extorted into putting something into their bodies against their free will. No vaccine is perfect and everyone should have the right to weigh the pros of getting jabbed with the potential side effects to determine whether getting vaccinated is the right move.
Pro-establishment narrative
These numbers are troubling, and it's relatively easy to turn the tide back against measles and save the thousands of children who are being victimized by a preventable disease. Even children who survive measles can face long-term effects for the rest of their lives. More must be done to push against misinformation and get these children protected.