It Could Happen Here

Anti-Vax America: The Complete Series

38 snips
Jun 21, 2025
Catherine Wells, Director of Lubbock Public Health, teams up with Peter Hotez, a pediatrician-scientist, Michael Phillips, a historian of race and politics, and David Gorski, a surgeon and writer. Together, they tackle the alarming resurgence of vaccine hesitancy, linked to misinformation and political trends. They dissect the historical roots of anti-vaccination sentiments, explore the impact of community distrust, and highlight the intertwined relationship between faith and vaccine resistance. The urgent call for public health advocacy rings clear throughout the discussion.
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INSIGHT

Measles as Vaccination Canary

  • The West Texas measles outbreak highlights how low vaccination rates correlate with politicized skepticism, especially in deeply conservative Republican communities.
  • Measles acts as a warning signal for declining collective immunity and resurging preventable diseases in America.
ANECDOTE

Outbreak Discovery Anecdote

  • Catherine Wells shared how Lubbock Public Health first learned of the outbreak through two children hospitalized with suspected measles.
  • The confirmation sparked a rapid response and collaboration with the smaller health department in Gaines County.
INSIGHT

Vaccination Clinics' Response

  • Vaccination clinics have seen a mixed response; urban centers like Lubbock have higher turnout than rural areas.
  • These clinics are vital to reducing barriers and encouraging hesitant parents to vaccinate as outbreaks increase visibility.
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