Why do some people think that measles was never a scary disease?

There were "only" 41 measles deaths in the United States when the Brady Bunch measles episode first aired in 1969, down from recent highs of 4-500 deaths thanks to the introduction of the first measles vaccines. Ben Tapper sells (literally) fear of vaccines, trying to convince you that it is more dangerous to get vaccinated than it is to get a natural infection, even measles.

The usual suspects...

Ben Tapper Says That Measles Was Never a Scary Disease

While Ben Tapper, a chiropractor and member of the Disinformation Dozen might try to convince you that measles is not a deadly disease, we know the truth.

Measles has always been a very scary disease.

"It is not yet generally accepted that measles can be a dangerous illness. Believe me, it is. In my opinion parents who now refuse to have their children immunised are putting the lives of those children at risk."

Roald Dahl’s letter after his daughter's death from measles

A killer!

Lassie got shot, but ended up saving the day, getting help for Timmy, after they ran out of gas taking a short cut rushing home.

Remember the Lassie episode (1958) when Timmy had measles and looked pretty sick? When everyone got measles, measles was everywhere, even on TV.

In the pre-vaccine era, measles killed about 4-500 people in the United States each year.

"About 4,000,000 cases occur each year in the United States. about 400 children die; another 400 develop encephalitis or "brain fever." Still others have various complication. Measles stirs up an ear or kidney, or can be associated with pneumonia, heart disease, tuberculosis, or asthma. So it's not such a "harmless" disease some of the time"

Dr. Joseph Molner

And this was in the 1950s and '60s, so you can't credit improved hygiene and sanitation for any decrease in cases or deaths.

Pediatricians fought to get kids vaccinated and protected and prevent "unnecessary" measles epidemics once the first measles vaccines were introduced because they knew first hand that measles is a deadly disease.

Pediatricians fought to get kids vaccinated and protected and prevent "unnecessary" measles epidemics and deaths once the first measles vaccines were introduced, because they knew first hand that measles is a deadly disease, remembering when measles would cause big epidemics each year.

But you don't have to go back to the pre-vaccine era to know that measles is a scary disease.

Measles is a Scary Disease

Remember the large measles epidemics from 1989 to 1991 in the United States that most folks blame on President Ronald Reagan's cuts to immunization programs? Nationwide, at least 123 people died among 55,000 cases, with another 11,000 hospitalized!

And of course, there is the simple fact that measles continues to kill hundreds of thousands of people each year worldwide.

The MMR vaccine is safe with few risks and it is obviously necessary. Don't let folks like Ben Tapper scare you away from vaccinating and protecting your kids.

Get vaccinated and protected.

Measles is not a mild disease. And it never was.

Fact Checking the Idea That Measles Was Never a Scary Disease

Ben Tapper Says That Measles Was Never a Scary Disease

Measles is a Scary Disease

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