Why Barbados cannot slip on vaccines

The recent warning from the Ministry of Health and Wellness about measles should make all of us stop and pay attention, as the Region of the Americas, which includes Barbados, has lost its “free of measles” status.

That ability to boast of being measles-free was an important achievement built on strong public health practices which included high vaccination rates. Now that certification has been lost because measles has been spreading again in parts of Canada — a key source of tourism for us and others in the Caribbean.

This does not mean measles is suddenly sweeping across Barbados. What it does mean is that we are at greater risk, and it is something we must take seriously. As Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George explained recently, people travel more now than ever before, and diseases travel with them. When measles cases rise in nearby regions, our own chances of importing the disease go up, he explained. It means that what happens in one country will quickly affect another.

At the same time, there is a growing problem that is making the situation even harder, that is the spread of misinformation about vaccines.

Many of the rumours being shared online or repeated in conversations are simply not true. Some come from misunderstanding. Others come from fear. Some are intentionally misleading. One cannot discount the new leadership of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a long-time vaccine sceptic and who has continued that policy posture at the regulatory health agency.

Whatever the source, the effect is the same. Wrong information can cause people to delay or avoid vaccination, and that situation puts everyone at increased risk.

This matters because measles is not a mild illness. It is one of the most contagious viruses around. If one person has it, almost everyone around them who is not vaccinated is likely to catch it.

Measles can lead to very serious complications, including pneumonia and inflammation of the brain. Children under five are at the greatest risk, but people of any age can become very sick. Even worse, a person can be spreading the virus for days before they even know they are sick, because symptoms may take ten to 14 days to appear.

The good news is that we already have a safe and effective way to protect ourselves through the MMR vaccine. The Ministry of Health has reminded us that two doses, given at 12 months and again at 18 months, offer 97 per cent protection for life.

This vaccine has been used around the world for decades. It is one of the most effective tools in modern medicine. The reason measles disappeared from the Americas in the first place is because people got vaccinated. And now that it is returning in some places, it is mostly because vaccination rates dropped.

Barbados has always had a strong public health system. We should be proud of that, but at the same time, we cannot assume that success will continue. It depends on the choices of our people. Every parent who keeps their child’s vaccinations up to date is helping to protect not just their own family but children across communities by doing their part.

This is why the rise of vaccine scepticism is a major problem. Some of the claims being shared may sound convincing at first, especially when they are wrapped in emotional stories or even “scientific-sounding” language. Whenever we look closely, the arguments can be easily dismantled.

Vaccines do not cause measles, they prevent it. All the evidence points to vaccines doing significant good, rather than harm.

It is understandable that people may be cautious about their health. But real caution means listening to trained medical professionals and not random social media posts. Being truly informed means checking facts, not rejecting them.

Those who spread misinformation often do so without offering any proven solution. In times like these, Barbadians should believe in protecting the health of the vulnerable, including young children, older persons and the thousands who live with non-communicable diseases which heighten their risk.

When a parent vaccinates their child, they are helping to protect the ones who are too young to have their own shots. Those who ensure their loved ones are vaccinated help to prevent outbreaks that could impact our schools and workplaces.

We already know what works. The threat of measles is real, but it is also preventable. Citizens have the power to stop it before it starts by ensuring their wards receive their vaccinations in a timely manner, and by listening to reliable information.