This Week in Virology TWiV 1201: Booster shots with Adam Ratner
Mar 16, 2025
Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious diseases physician and author of 'Booster Shots', shares insights on measles vaccination and the challenges posed by vaccine hesitancy. He reflects on the 2018-2019 measles outbreak in NYC and its connection to anti-vaccine sentiments and public health. Ratner emphasizes the importance of community outreach and storytelling to combat misinformation. He also discusses the critical role of the MMR vaccine in preventing disease, while navigating the complexities of vaccine exemptions and maintaining public trust in health communications.
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2018 Measles Outbreak Impact
- The 2018-2019 NYC measles outbreak was a dramatic shift from the disease being "solved" to cases daily.
- This experience changed Dr. Ratner's view on vaccine hesitancy and the anti-vaccine movement.
Social Determinants Affect Measles
- Measles impact varies with social determinants; poverty causes worse outcomes.
- This disparity has persisted from early 1900s tenement outbreaks to modern outbreaks.
Measles Causes Immune Amnesia
- Measles causes immune amnesia by killing memory B and T cells.
- This lowers immunity to other infections for years after measles.
