Anti-vax movement growing in Brazil as measles makes a comeback

Established in 1978, Brazil’s national immunization program offers 19 free types of vaccines. Through effective public health campaigns, the country has eradicated a series of diseases, such as measles, polio, diphtheria, and rubella. Some of them, however, are staging a comeback, as vaccination rates are dropping in Brazil, accompanied by the rise of anti-vax movements.

The Health Ministry hadn’t observed a single case of measles in Brazil since 2000. However, in 2018, there were 10,262 registered cases. This year, there have been another 426 confirmed cases, of which most are concentrated in São Paulo. In 40 days, the state saw a 586-percent increase in cases of measles. Not surprisingly, the state had only achieved 5 percent of its vaccination target against the disease. 

The government has confirmed that vaccination rates for children under two years old have been decreasing since 2011. In 2018, the government hoped to innoculate 95 percent of the population against measles, but vaccination rates only reached 71 to 84 percent.

Why are vaccination rates decreasing?

Outbreaks of deadly diseases highlight several problems in Brazil’s...