Romania saw 15 measles cases in 2015. Since 2016, this number has blown-up to 2,165, including 13 fatalities. This is largely due to bogus claims from anti-vaccination campaigns in the country, according to a La Vanguardia report (computer translated).

Image/TDH
Image/TDH

President of the Romanian Society of Microbiology, Alexandru Rafila directly points the finger at the anti-vaxx movement and says, “Incorrect information, often tendentious, not based on scientific methods or real data should end so that they do not affect the health of our children”.

Mercury in vaccines, vaccines introduce foreign elements and vaccines cause asthma are some of the arguments made by the anti-vaccination movement.

This misinformation has resulted in vaccination rates in the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine falling from 95% of children in 2013 to 80% in 2016, and it continues to drop.

Campaigns led by the Christian Orthodox Pro Vita Federation, author of the 2012 book “Vaccines: Prevention or Illness” Christei Todea-Gross and the Coalition for the Family have spread the anti-vaccination message through a number of outlets.

The Ministry of Health has been denouncing “the irresponsible campaigns against the vaccination of children” for months; however, there are many parents who do not vaccinate their children for lack of confidence towards the authorities.

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