Measles outbreaks are occurring across the country. Since the beginning of 2019, there have been 465 measles cases; 85 people in Washington state and Oregon alone have contracted measles. In an era when vaccine-preventable diseases seldom occur in the United States, these measles outbreaks highlight the Portland metropolitan region’s vulnerability to infectious diseases.
To assess this issue, Clackamas County Public Health (CCPH) has released a Public Health Impact Report on vaccine hesitancy. The reasons for the decline in vaccination coverage are complex and likely driven by a mix of scientific, socioeconomic, sociocultural, and political factors, including:
- Limited access to health care resources and vaccines
- Ease of non-medical exemption
- Lack of trust in vaccine safety, pharmaceutical companies and conventional health care systems
- Misinformation about vaccines has increased skepticism about vaccine science and health risks…
The full report outlines trends in Clackamas County and highlights CCPH’s strategies to improve vaccination rates within its communities. Read the full report.
