The “Real-World” Consequences of “Anti-Vaxx” Conspiracy Theories:
A dangerous MAGA and alternative media “feedback loop” is fueling America’s current public health crisis.
Image credit: Getty Images.
NOTE: Nazia Saeed, a human resources professional living in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, contributed significant research and writing to this article.
**********
Measles is among the most infectious diseases known to humanity.
Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, millions of Americans contracted measles annually, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Following the American Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s goal to eradicate measles in 1978, the extensive adoption of the measles vaccine led to a significant decline in infection rates by 1982.
Recently, the public’s waning trust in federal agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC has resulted in a significant resurgence of infectious diseases, including previously eradicated outbreaks like measles. According to the CDC, the United States experienced more than 1,200 measles cases in 2019 — the highest number in nearly three decades.
**********
Preliminary data for 2025 indicate a concerning increase in measles outbreaks and infection rates, reigniting fears of a potential loss of herd immunity.
Particularly troubling is that many of these new measles outbreak cases are concentrated in tight-knit religious or exclusive “new age wellness” communities with lower vaccination rates. The conspiracy theory of misinformation propagated by mass media is leading these communities to abandon childhood immunizations, resulting in severe “real-world” consequences.
Measles can be a perilous and frequently fatal disease, especially for children. Among unvaccinated populations, measles infections can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.
In Washington state, a community with a vaccination rate below 80% recently experienced a measles outbreak that hospitalized several children and led to the temporary closure of three elementary schools. In Florida, a toddler died from measles-related complications—an almost unheard-of tragedy in a country where measles vaccines have been available since the 1960s.
**********
Case Studies: Outbreaks in Under-Vaccinated Communities.
Image credit: The Wall Street Journal.
The recent increase in measles cases across the United States compels hospitals to strategize and gear up for additional public outbreaks, placing extra pressure on an already stretched healthcare system.
Several measles outbreaks over the past six years provide stark examples of how vaccine conspiracy theories and underfunded health services interact to create a perfect storm for measles resurgence.
New York, 2019: A measles outbreak among Orthodox Jewish communities, many influenced by anti-vaccine misinformation, resulted in hundreds of cases. Public health interventions, such as emergency vaccination orders, came late partly because of limited local resources.
Minnesota, 2024: A Somali-American community in Minneapolis, previously targeted by anti-vaccine activists, experienced a cluster of measles cases. Health officials noted that language barriers and a lack of sustained outreach programs, previously supported by HHS grants, worsened the situation in Minneapolis.
Ohio, 2024: Rural counties with low vaccination rates and strong anti-government sentiment saw localized outbreaks, overwhelming small public health departments already stretched thin by budget cuts.
**********
Policy Changes and the Defunding of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. Image credit: Melissa Majchrzak and the Associated Press (AP).
The public health policy choices made by the new Trump administration in the last one hundred days have notably undermined America's public health framework.
US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), Jr., a virulent vaccine conspiracy theorist, to run the CDC. After the Senate confirmed RFK Jr. on February 13th, the HHS has experienced the most critical budget reductions since 2017, accelerating under the first Trump administration.
Cuts to HHS by President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have affected:
Immunization Programs: Reduced funding for community outreach programs that historically improved vaccination rates in underserved communities.
Epidemiological Tracking: Weakened surveillance efforts to detect and contain outbreaks quickly.
Public Health Communication: Decreased investment in countering misinformation through authoritative health campaigns.
These cuts mean fewer resources for local health departments, many of which serve as the front line in maintaining high immunization rates and managing outbreaks.
Defunding the HHS and allowing conspiracy theories to fester unchecked is a recipe for disaster, not just for measles, but for any infectious disease.
**********
Former US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign event in August 2024. Image credit: ABC News.com.
However, we must note that former President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Congressional Democrats are also responsible for defunding the HHS and its sub-organizations.
For instance, Congressional budget records report that the CDC’s budget for immunization and respiratory disease programs was reduced by 12% in 2022. The re-emergence of measles in the United States serves as a clarion call, warning of the deadly consequences of allowing conspiracy theories to go unchecked and dismantling critical public health infrastructures.
This is not just a health concern but a measure of America’s capacity to prioritize the common good over political convenience and misinformation. Without urgent action to rebuild trust in vaccines and adequately fund public health initiatives, the country risks reversing decades of progress in disease prevention, putting countless lives at risk.