Resource Pack: The Measles Outbreak

This resource pack was curated by the Global Health Education and Learning Incubator at Harvard University (GHELI) to support an upcoming Forum at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “The Measles Outbreak: Why Vaccines Matter.” The multidisciplinary materials are suitable for policy makers, educators, and students wanting to understand the current measles outbreak in the U.S. and how it fits into broader narrative of the disease’s global resurgence. In 2019, four European countries lost their measles elimination status—the United Kingdom, Greece, Czech Republic, and Albania. Many public health experts fear that the U.S. will also lose it elimination status, as measles cases reach record numbers in 2019. The resource pack shares national and global data and resources that contextualize current trends.

The Forum’s event, “The Measles Outbreak: Why Vaccines Matter,” is described as follow:

The U.S. officially eliminated measles nearly 20 years ago. Yet, this year, more than 1,100 cases have been reported, despite being preventable by vaccine. The CDC says the majority of cases are among those who were not vaccinated. This Forum looks at the drivers of the 2019 outbreaks and, more generally, the challenges of vaccine acceptance. Why do some parents delay or decline vaccinating their children? How might their concerns be addressed? What about exemptions? Why does the global picture matter? And what can be done once an outbreak begins? New polling data will frame this discussion, providing a uniquely current picture of vaccine acceptance in the U.S.

The Forum at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is a live webcasting series that provides decision-makers with a global platform to discuss policy choices and scientific controversies across the world.

The Global Health Education and Learning Incubator at Harvard University supports interdisciplinary education about world health through the production, curation, and dissemination of educational public goods.