By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A significant rise in measles cases in South Carolina has raised concerns about the U.S. potentially losing its measles elimination status. The state has reported a substantial number of new cases, contributing to a nationwide total exceeding 2,000 cases this year, with a vast majority occurring among unvaccinated individuals. The sustained transmission since January 20th puts the country at risk of losing its elimination status, with public health officials warning of ongoing transmission in various settings. This surge in cases is largely attributed to declining vaccination rates and vaccine exemptions, especially in states like Texas. Public health officials continue to emphasize the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of the disease.
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New measles cases in South Carolina put the U.S. on the verge of losing elimination status, and honestly, it’s looking more and more like we’re going to lose it. It’s a sobering thought, a backward step that feels avoidable, and frankly, a bit embarrassing. We’re talking about a disease that we had essentially conquered, and now, it’s making a comeback, largely due to a preventable lack of vaccination.
This situation has been fueled by the very people who should be protecting public health. It’s hard not to point fingers at the current Health and Human Services Secretary, who seems more interested in framing vaccinations as a personal choice and promoting unproven treatments. Instead of clear, decisive messaging about the proven benefits of vaccines, the focus has been on downplaying their importance, even going so far as to make claims about their effectiveness waning quickly. That kind of rhetoric creates confusion and undermines the scientific consensus, and it’s something that really needs to be addressed. It’s truly infuriating to see this happening, and it’s hard to imagine how it will play out, but as a parent, you have to be worried for your children’s future.
The fact that these new cases are happening in a state like South Carolina, where hospital employees don’t even need to be vaccinated, highlights the depth of the problem. It’s alarming, especially when you consider that many patients there have low health literacy and yet vehemently oppose vaccines. It’s a breeding ground for misinformation and a perfect storm for outbreaks. When your health minister thinks a vaccine has not been tested enough in 60 years, you’re doomed. This all adds up to a dangerous cocktail of ignorance and irresponsibility.
The blame game has already begun, with some pointing fingers at specific communities, but the truth is that if people prioritized their children’s health and actually vaccinated them, this wouldn’t be happening. We’re talking about an entire population that’s been exposed to misinformation and they now don’t trust the government. We’re now dealing with the consequences of that distrust.
The underlying issue is, in my opinion, a dangerous combination of ignorance and obstinacy. There’s a widespread misunderstanding of science, coupled with a stubborn refusal to accept the proven benefits of vaccination. It’s a mindset that seems to celebrate backwardness and embraces conspiracy theories over scientific fact. It’s the kind of attitude that, frankly, is dragging us back to the dark ages of public health.
The irony is not lost on me – the same people who claim to value “freedom” are also, it seems, happily allowing preventable diseases to spread. The same people who want to move to Mars won’t do something as simple as protect their kids with a vaccine. It’s baffling. It all boils down to reckless child endangerment – both of their children and any child they manage to infect.
This all really makes me question what we are really fighting for, it isn’t winning, it’s losing. I have to say I’d rather see my kids grow up disease-free than watch them die or struggle from something that we know how to prevent. It’s not difficult, and it is the right thing to do.
It’s frankly enraging to see the impact of this administration’s actions. It is what it is, and we must do better. The fact is that this measles outbreak and others will continue to happen as long as people refuse to get vaccinated, and it will hurt the ones who didn’t vote this way. We really need to get our act together.
It all starts with the basics: get your damn shots. It’s that simple. And for the love of all that is holy, can we please stop letting imbeciles make medical decisions? At what point is it considered child abuse?
Remember, if you get measles, your body loses up to 3/4 of the memory of prior vaccines, making you susceptible to diseases that you have previously been inoculated against. It’s literally reversing the protection we’ve worked so hard to achieve.
We are watching our healthcare system get dismantled. We are watching preventable diseases spread. We are watching our country become a laughingstock on the international stage. But it is what it is, and here we are. This is a mess, and it is a preventable one. It really makes you wonder, is it now, “Make preventable diseases great again?”