Measles, Movements and Medical Exemptions: How California Learned to Lead the Way

In 2000, the United States celebrated the elimination of measles. Yet within twenty years, measles epidemics had sprung up throughout the country. This article examines the factors responsible for measles’ return to the United States and argues for a state policy that effectively reduces potential outbreaks. The growing anti-vaccination movement and vaccine misinformation largely account for the increase in vaccine hesitancy, leading to measles epidemics. California’s Senate Bill 277, a school-entry vaccination policy, demonstrates how withholding religious and philosophical exemptions increased vaccination rates in unprotected communities. By decreasing vaccine hesitancy with effective vaccine exemption policies, the United States can be again measles-free