What’s Helping Fuel New Measles Outbreaks?
February 21, 2024
In the latest US outbreak of measles, at least six new cases have been confirmed in a Florida elementary school, and health officials point to the area’s lower-than-average vaccination rate as a contributing factor. In Issues, Daniel Hicks examines why some people resist vaccinations—or take other stances, such as denial of climate change, that run contrary to scientific consensus. Their views often “aren’t actually about the science,” he argues, but rather represent “proxy politics” prompted by deeper social and economic disagreements. Ultimately, Hicks notes, scientists and policymakers need to keep these gaps in mind in seeking effective public solutions.