Nearly 35 US states are grappling with outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough. A recent American Community Media press briefing highlighted concerns from physicians and scientists about the impact of these healthcare challenges on American families and global communities. This article distills the key concerns raised by medical experts, providing a clear understanding of the risks to public health and potential solutions.
1. **Measles Resurgence Due to Vaccine Skepticism**
A sudden rise in measles cases, even in educated communities, is linked to a lack of awareness and growing vaccine skepticism. Dr. William Schaffner notes this stems from “not wanting anyone to tell them what to do, a lack of trust in public health, conventional medicine, and the pediatricians who care for them.” This skepticism undermines decades of progress in eradicating the disease.
2. **Funding Cuts Threaten Healthcare Access**
Cuts to funding for Medicaid and children’s programs will disproportionately affect economically disadvantaged populations. Experts fear a return to disparities in healthcare access, reversing gains made in eliminating differences based on race, location, ethnicity, and language. These cuts could undo years of progress in equitable healthcare.
3. **Undermining Scientific Publications Harms Progress**
Efforts to undermine established scientific journals, such as *The Lancet*, pose a threat to the integrity of scientific research. Dr. Ben Neuman warns that creating alternative scientific journals could degrade science, undermining America’s role as a leader in ideas, products, and services in the scientific field.
4. **Global Health Policies are Interconnected**
Changes in American healthcare policy can have far-reaching global consequences, affecting vaccine access and disease control worldwide. Dr. Neuman cautions that factors like money, nationality, and religion should not influence vaccination efforts, as infectious diseases do not discriminate. The interconnected nature of global health requires a unified approach.
5. **Political Influence on COVID-19 Vaccines**
The COVID-19 vaccine has become increasingly politicized, leading to mistrust despite endorsements from health ministries and safe administration of millions of doses. This mistrust complicates efforts to control the virus and protect vulnerable populations. “Though ministries of health in America and other countries have reviewed vaccine data, endorsed them, and safely administered millions of doses, it was difficult to comprehend the level of mistrust growing among vaccine skeptics.”
6. **PEPFAR Cuts Jeopardize HIV Control**
Funding cuts to PEPFAR could result in up to 100,000 preventable deaths in just one year, with potentially millions of new HIV infections and deaths by 2030. Dr. Jirair Ratevosian emphasizes that antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for suppressing the virus, saving lives, and preventing HIV transmission. Without a 5-year reauthorization path for PEPFAR, ending the program could result in up to 11 million additional new HIV infections and 3 million additional deaths by 2030.
7. **GAVI Funding Cuts Undermine Global Vaccination**
As the largest donor to Gavi, the global vaccine program, U.S. funding cuts would undermine international efforts to combat infectious diseases. Dr. Neuman notes that Gavi programs are essential for testing vaccine effectiveness in endemic areas, ensuring both safety and efficacy. “By the time an outbreak of something new gets to the United States, it has passed through many people, and it may actually be too late to do anything about it.”
8. **New COVID-19 Vaccine Protocols Exclude Vulnerable Groups**
The new COVID-19 vaccine distribution protocols, focusing only on people 65 and older, exclude vulnerable groups such as healthy children, pregnant individuals, and healthcare workers under 65. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong highlights the particular risk to pregnant people and infants under six months due to their immune system vulnerabilities. “There’s a reason why we’re worried about those two populations in particular,” said Dr.Chin-Hong, “Pregnant people are relatively immune-compromised because your immune system doesn’t want to recognize the growing fetus too much. That puts them at risk for lots of other infections in general, including serious COVID. The second group is those who are under 2 years old, specifically those under 6 months. Their immune system is not mature enough, and they rely on the antibodies going across the placenta from the mother.”
These insights from medical experts underscore the critical challenges facing American and global healthcare systems. Addressing vaccine skepticism, restoring funding to essential programs, and ensuring equitable vaccine distribution are crucial steps to safeguarding public health. Read the full story at [https://americacommunitymedia.org/2024/06/03/americas-health-at-risk-from-shifting-healthcare-protocols-on-preventable-diseases/](https://americacommunitymedia.org/2024/06/03/americas-health-at-risk-from-shifting-healthcare-protocols-on-preventable-diseases/)