Without access to consistent, accurate vaccine-related information and meaningful community participation, anti-vaccine movements will exploit the loopholes to manipulate and bias the public. Lessons ought to be drawn from 2019, where nearly 150 measles-related deaths were recorded, according to the Uganda National Expanded Program on Immunization.
The estimated 150 deaths represented a nearly 100 per cent increase from 2018, as a result of misinformation about the after-effects of the measles-rubella vaccine.
Over time, vaccination programs across the globe have positively contributed to a decline in mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, polio, among others, by providing herd immunity.
This success is partly attributed to high vaccine acceptance, awareness, accessibility, affordability and activation. For instance, the eradication of smallpox speaks volumes about the vaccination program. However, the rapid spread of misinformation through vari