The return of measles—an unnecessary sequel

[摘要] Concerns over fake news and alternative facts have permeated the fabric of our daily life. Trust in entrenched establishments seems to be at an all-time low. I grew up in the 1960s; I grew up with “don’t trust the man .” I grew up with the Vietnam War, Watergate, and the military-industrial complex, and I have read and heard enough since then to know that a good amount of our distrust was well founded. More recently, there has been increased public scrutiny of the “pharmaceutical-medical complex,” with concerns being raised in the media and by legislators regarding drug pricing, seemingly inappropriate physician prescribing of medications encouraged by drug manufacturers, and the overall costs of medical care. And yes, there is the finger-pointing related to the opioid epidemic. Yet despite these concerns directed at the medical community, as recently as December 2018, a Gallup poll (N = 1,025 US adults) found that physicians were the second most trusted professionals in the United States. (Nurses were number 1!) So why are we, the trustworthy, having such a tough time convincing people to get routine vaccines for themselves and for their kids? In a sea of truthopenia, we need to do more.

[学科分类] 卫生学